One Arrested, One Sought in Connection with Body Discovered within Burning Lexington Residence

Arrest of one suspect made, another still at large

LEXINGTON, S.C. – A massive break was made in a horrifying case in which a body was found inside a burning home in Lexington. Local law enforcement arrested one individual and are relentlessly pursuing another in connection to the gruesome murder of Caldwell Melton Motley Jr., whose charred remains were discovered by firefighters while they were extinguishing the flames in the latter part of July.

Edward Leroy Smith, a 39-year-old man residing in Winnsboro, was apprehended by Deputies on Tuesday evening. He is currently being contained in the Lexington County Detention Center following a magistrate judge’s decision to deny his bond on Wednesday morning.

A chilling case of homicide

Following thorough investigation, detectives established that Smith is responsible for taking the life of Mr. Motley by infliction of stab wounds. “Smith also seriously wounded another man present at the scene by striking him with an edged object,” Lexington County Sheriff, Jay Koon, added.

According to issued arrest warrants, Smith is facing a charge of murder over Motley Jr.’s brutal stabbing death. Moreover, Smith is under the charge of attempted murder from the stabbing of another man who was found injured inside a detached garage adjacent to the consumed home at Oak Ridge Lane’s 200 block.

Through a combination of victim and witness interviews, evidence, and digital data, detectives were able to determine that Smith was present at Oak Ridge Lane shortly before the emergency call was made regarding the house fire. This chilling detail solidified the authorities’ suspicion of Smith’s involvement in the act.

A second perpetrator wanted

Donovan Ryan Holman, a 33-year-old resident of Lexington, is furthermore wanted on charges relating to this grim case, according to Sheriff Koon. “We strongly urge anyone with potential information about Holman’s whereabouts to contact us by using the Midlands Crimestoppers mobile app. Your identity will remain confidential. Moreover, if your tip leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward,” fitly stated by Koon.

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