A news conference Friday morning held by the Newberry County Sheriffs Office is intended to be the final word on whether remains discovered in a shallow grave in Laurens County, are those of a man who'd been reported missing, earlier this month.
The missing man in question 87 year old, Edwin Geer.
Our own Roger Davis reports, that two coroners are arguing over jurisdiction in the case. Laurens County Coroner Patti Cannup says her office has already confirmed the body as that of 87-year-old Edwin Geer. She says an autopsy was performed on Wednesday at a hospital in Greenville, and that the man's family has positively identified him.
However, Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece responded Thursday with a statement saying that her office has "taken over the investigation,. The statement went on to say “The release of a missing person’s name as the confirmed identity of these remains is premature, inaccurate and irresponsible."
Cannup replied that her office has jurisdiction in the case adding, " I stand by my statement."
The makeshift grave was near Broadway Lane in Laurens County's Waterloo Community, a few miles from where the pickup truck registered to Edwin Geer had been found prior.
An arrest was announced in connection to the discovery of the remains, Friday. The remains are in fact those of Edwin Geer, rendering Kneece's statement to be the one inaccurate. Whether or not she will admit she was was in the wrong, remains to be seen?
