Woman charged with murder after man found in shallow grave in South Carolina

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A woman has been charged with murder after a man was found in a shallow grave in the woods in South Carolina back in April, police say.

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According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Jessica Marie Strachan, 28, has been charged with murder months after Devantae Griffin’s body was found in a wooded area in Spartanburg.

WHNS said Griffin’s family reported Griffin, 28, missing on March 30. His body was found in a shallow grave almost a month later on April 22.

Strachan was interviewed by investigators who they believed was the last person to see Griffin. WHNS said that they requested a second interview with Strachan, but learned she had left South Carolina and went to Florida without any notice.

SCSO charged her with obstruction of justice for fleeing, and she was put into a national database as a wanted person, SCSO said. She was eventually located in Miami, Florida, brought back to South Carolina and served a warrant for obstruction on April 14. SCSO said that Strachan violated her home detention condition of her bond arrangements and was arrested again on April 25, about three days after Griffin’s body was discovered.

SCSO said Strachan has been in jail since April 25, since they have developed probable cause to charge her with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

WHNS learned, through warrants that they had obtained from SCSO, that Strachan allegedly stabbed Griffin to death. No motive was provided.

According to SCSO, the investigation is ongoing and no further information has been released.

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