Investigations Underway in Lexington County Stabbing and House Fire
Persons of Interest Identified
The hunt is on in Lexington County as law enforcement look for individuals identified as ‘persons of interest’ in a recent deadly stab-and-burn case involving a man who died after being found in a home that had been consumed by flames.
The victim, a 38-year-old man named Caldwell Melton Motley Jr., succumbed to multiple fatal stab wounds on Saturday evening. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed the cause of death.
The deadly incident took place in a house located on the 200 block of Oak Ridge Lane in Lexington. Following the fire, investigators found Motley’s body. An unidentified man was also discovered in a detached garage in the backyard. It is expected that the second man will survive his injuries.
Although detailed information has been kept under wraps, the sheriff’s department has divulged that the investigators are tracking down what they suggest are “strong leads”. It has been revealed that Motley and the second victim were residing together in the house.
Neighborhood Security Ensured
The department spokesperson, while choosing not to identify persons of interest for now, assured there were no immediate threats concerning the neighborhood. This comes as a relief for the locals, including Leslie Queen who lives three houses down from the incident site. Along with her husband, Queen expressed shock upon hearing the news.
“Honestly, we were just neighbors. I didn’t personally know him, I just said hey whenever he was in passing, whenever he was walking his dog. So other than that, no we didn’t have a personal relationship”, Queen stated.
Crime scene tape has remained wrapped around the premises since Monday, with deputies maintaining a presence on-site, a measure that, according to another local resident, Matthew Queen, has been welcome. “There’s been a continued presence and it’s been very safe here. I’m a father of a child and we’re right next to an elementary school, there’s a lot of elderly people in the neighborhood, a lot of young children but it has felt very safe here”, he said.
Ownership Details Uncertain
While property records show that Motley was not the owner of the house, it remains unclear who the homeowner was. When asked if the surviving person was the homeowner, department spokespeople declined to confirm, citing a policy of not disclosing victims’ identities.
Investigation Continues Amidst Public Reassurances
As officials continue to probe this case and prioritize identifying potential criminal elements, public reassurances are being provided to secure the peace. The Lexington community is being kept informed about the situation and involvement of individuals in this case.
As the investigations ramp up, Lexington locals have been asked to provide any information they might have to help aid the investigations and bring justice to the victims of this heinous crime.
