Burn Victim Identified in Elbert County

By David Stephens, WSGC Radio, Elberton

In Elbert County, the body found in the trunk of a burned out vehicle after a manhunt in September has finally been identified.

According to Elbert County Coroner and EMS Director Chuck Almond, the victim was 35-year-old Charles Hall Mills of Townville, SC.

Almond said the cause of death was a gunshot wound that was inflicted in Anderson County.

Six people were eventually arrested in connection with the manhunt on September 22nd, but none have yet been charged with Mills’ death.

Two people were arrested after the daylong manhunt along Highway 328 in Elbert County near the South Carolina state line.

They are 26-year-old Johnathan Cann and 23-year-old Chelsea Clary, who are both charged with 1st Degree Arson and Concealing the Death of Another.

Cann also faces two felony Aggravated Assault charges, after allegedly pulling a gun on a father and son earlier that Sunday.

The man had seen the vehicles on fire and stopped to ask if Cann needed help.

A third person, identified as 24-year-old Blair Leroy, was arrested later and charged with Party to a Crime 1st Degree Arson and Party to a Crime Concealing the Death of a Another.

In early October, three more people were arrested that authorities believe are somehow connected to the initial manhunt.

They are 23-year old Miranda Carol Burdette, 23-year old Timothy Garrett Holmes – both of Starr, SC and 29-year old Christopher Ryan Sills of Anderson.

All are charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug-related objects.

Almond said the investigation is ongoing to determine exactly where Mills was killed and who killed him.