Body found near quarry; missing South Carolina college student dead, university says
10/12/2020 9:07 am PDT
UPDATE:
WMBF-TV reports the Richland County Coroner's Office said Sam Laundon, who was from Cary, North Carolina, died from blunt force trauma to the head and body. People who live near the quarry describe the area as dangerous, saying it's a steep drop from the road into the area where Laundon was found.
The coroner's office and RCSD are still investigating.
MORE: Coroner releases cause of death for UofSC student reported missing, then found dead - WMBF
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WLTX) -- The University of South Carolina is confirming that one of their students who'd been reported as missing was found dead.
The school sent out a brief statement Monday saying that 19-year-old Samuel Laundon has died.
“This morning we received confirmation from the Richland County Coroner's Office of the death of one of our students over the weekend, junior Sam Laundon," a school spokesman wrote. "Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers are with Sam's family and friends as they grieve his loss. Counseling services are available to students, faculty and staff impacted by this tragedy.”
WLTX has not gotten official confirmation from the coroner's office of the identification yet.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department said Sunday evening that it had called off the search for Laundon after they found a body fitting his description in shrubbery in the Vulcan Materials Company quarry near the Olympia neighborhood.
A missing-person report was filed just before 1 p.m. Saturday for the 19-year-old. Investigators say Laundon was walking home with friends in the Olympia-Granby area when they got lost around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Laundon jumped a fence in hopes of reaching his destination faster. When his friends called a ride-share service to take them home, Laundon declined to join them.
Have you seen him?
@RCSD
Samuel Laundon, 19, was last seen in the early morning hours of Saturday in the Olympia-Granby area.
Laundon was last seen wearing a green t-shirt, white shorts, blue jacket and black shoes.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, call 911. pic.twitter.com/ItMNLTjnd3
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