A death investigation is ongoing after the body of 36-year-old Darrelle Wheeler was found early Friday morning in Aiken.
Authorities reported that Wheeler, a homeless man, was discovered on Edgefield Highway with a traumatic injury to his upper chest.
The body was located around 5:30 a.m. on Sassafras Road near the intersection with Edgefield Highway. The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner’s office responded to the scene, with Coroner Darryl Ables pronouncing Wheeler deceased at 6:04 a.m.
Due to the nature of the injury, the coroner has classified the case as a “death investigation.” An autopsy is scheduled for next week in Newberry to determine the cause and manner of death. The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wheeler’s death.
Wheeler’s social media accounts paint a picture of a man with a varied life. His Facebook page, which hasn’t been updated in over a year, features posts about caring for horses and his time working at Longhorn Steakhouse. His TikTok account, active as recently as a year ago, includes a series of musical videos. Wheeler attended South Aiken High School and later the University of South Carolina, his page says.
