Columbia Man Arrested and Charged with Murder Following a Brutal Beating in Greenville
A horrifying crime scene shocks Greenville community as the authorities uncover the details of a brutal murder.
The Investigation
An investigation was launched by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, following the discovery of a man’s body that had been beaten and set on fire late Sunday evening. A pivotal breakthrough took place on Tuesday when they successfully arrested the suspect, Juan Veneroso-Lopez, from his Columbia home. The investigators from both the Greenville County and Richland County Sheriff’s Offices worked on the case diligently, eventually charging Veneroso-Lopez with murder on Wednesday.
It was during the interrogation, as revealed by Lt. Ryan Flood, that Veneroso-Lopez confessed to killing Angel Lazaro-Castillo, a 29-year-old man. Veneroso-Lopez gave the gruesome details of the deadly assault, going on record saying that he had beaten Lazaro-Castillo to death before he set his body ablaze.
The Motive
The incident was linked back to a domestic dispute, as declared by Lt. Flood. According to the information gathered, Veneroso-Lopez had travelled to Greenville in an apparent bid to confront Lazaro-Castillo over matters that are currently being investigated. It was during this confrontation that things tragically spiraled out of control.
Veneroso-Lopez used an undisclosed object to beat Lazaro-Castillo with unspeakable brutality. In a disturbing attempt to dispose of the evidence, he proceeded to douse the body with a flammable liquid before setting it on fire.
The Crime Scene
The terrifying spectacle of a man on fire was reported to the police via a call received around 11pm. The authorities rushed to the scene at North 6th Street and Woodside Avenue where they were met with the gruesome sight of Lazaro-Castillo’s body.
Following Veneroso-Lopez’s arrest, he was transported to the Greenville County Detention Center. During his court hearing on Wednesday morning, he was denied bond by a Greenville County judge, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
As the case continues to unfold, the Greenville community is left grappling with the shock of the horrifying events, underscoring the very real and tragic ramifications of domestic disputes. Legal authorities have vouched to meticulously go over every detail and ensure justice is served in this shocking case.
