An Aiken man was murdered before his body was burned in a vehicle, authorities said Tuesday.
Authorities confirmed the man whose body was found in a burned vehicle last summer on Bobby Gut Road was 33-year-old Freddie Powell III of Aiken.
“Mr. Powell cause of death was due to homicidal violence,” Coroner Darryl Ables said.
The case began on July 28 when deputies were called to a burned vehicle on Boggy Gut Road approximately one mile off Williston Road. Officers located the burned remains of an individual inside the vehicle.
At the time, the victim had sustained severe thermal injuries. Due to the extent of the thermal injuries, the race or sex of the victim could not be immediately determined.
After DNA testing, the victim was identified as Powell. No arrest or motive in the man’s death has been released.
Powell’s death is being recorded as one of Aiken County’s 22 homicides last year.
