As South Carolina police continue to investigate the disappearance of a Bamberg County mother Megan Bodiford, neighbors near the last known location expressed concerns about warning signs.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police and search crews found remains inside a car Tuesday in Bamberg County while searching for 25-year-old Bodiford, who hasn’t been seen since April 25, when she sent a text to a friend, saying she feared her boyfriend, Jarrett Haskell Davis.
“If you don’t hear from me in 30 minutes, he killed me. He has a gun,” the text read.
The friend contacted the police the following day, but they have not confirmed whether Bodiford was referring to Davis in the text.
On Tuesday, multiple agencies involved in the search discovered human remains off Turn Ray Road in Bamberg County, inside a burning car. Bamberg County Coroner Wallace Hicks was at the scene but hasn’t released information on the identity.
“It was shocking,” resident Jessie Collins told WIS 10. “I mean because who does that?”
Hicks reportedly said the vehicle found matched the dark gray Ford Explorer that police said Bodiford may have been in when she vanished.
Bodiford’s family said the remains were found a few miles from her boyfriend’s home. A neighbor who lives near the residence said he heard gunshots overnight around three weeks ago.
The investigation has since been sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
“That was extreme,” Collins continued. “I thought they just found the car, and then a couple days ago I found out the car was burnt. And they said it had human remains in it and that’s just – it blew my mind.”
According to FITS News, Bodiford, a mother of three young daughters, was last seen on April 24 in Denmark. Friends said Bodiford would never leave without her children.
Court documents indicate that Davis is a parolee with an extensive criminal record, with pending charges of domestic violence in Barnwell County.
Bodiford’s friend mentioned that she had been in contact with Davis’ parole officer for a month leading up to Bodiford’s disappearance, with concerns about Bodiford’s safety. The friend reportedly told the officer that Davis had been in violation of parole but said he wasn’t detained.
On April 27, investigators reviewed cell phone data after concern that Bodiford’s 4-month-old baby was also missing. Noting an active warrant for Davis on a second-degree domestic violence charge, police requested assistance from the SLED Fugitive Task Force to execute a search warrant at Davis’ home.
At around 8:11 a.m., investigators obtained cell phone data from the boyfriend’s device. Within a few hours, law enforcement apprehended Davis as he exited a shed at the residence.
The baby was found safe inside the home.
Since sending the text message, Bodiford’s phone has been off. She was last seen with Davis and an unidentified woman with brown hair, friends said.
Hicks said it will likely take around a week to officially identify the remains.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office at 803-245-3000.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Handout via FITS News]
