Body found in Georgetown County woods identified as missing man; suspect charged with murder

A body found in Georgetown County woods was identified as a missing man, and one man has been arrested in connection with murder, authorities said.

Alphonzo Alston III, 25, of Georgetown County was determined to be the name of the victim days after the discovery, Chase Ridgeway, Georgetown County Deputy Coroner, said.

Georgetown County police responded around 4 p.m. Wednesday to Mauresina Road off of Pennyroyal Road, south of Georgetown after two individuals found Alston in a wooded area. However, his body wasn’t identified until days later.

Alston had been reported missing by his family on Oct. 12 after an altercation occurred between him and Herbert Antonio Deas on Oct. 11, according to a release from Carrie Cuthbertson, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

On Oct. 11 at about 11:30 p.m., an incident between Alston and Deas occurred at Siau Lane in the Sampit community of Georgetown County. During the altercation, it was determined Deas fired a shot at Alston, Cuthbertson said.

GCSO investigators determined Deas had fired one shot intending to harm Alston. Warrant affidavits were presented and Deas was subsequently deemed as wanted in connection with attempted murder.

Deputies later arrested 30-year-old Deas of Siau Lane in Georgetown in connection with murder. Deas was taken into custody in Longs by GCSO deputies and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division authorities, Cuthbertson said.

The murder warrant was served to Deas at the Georgetown County Detention Center, where he is awaiting a bond hearing, police said.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Body found in Georgetown County woods identified as missing man; suspect charged with murder."