Men who died at Columbia apartment complex ID’d, cause of death unclear, coroner says
The two men were found dead at a Columbia apartment complex have been identified.
Calvin Witherspoon, Jr., 61, and Derrick Caldwell Roper, 30, were both found dead in separate apartments at the Allen Benedict Court apartment complex, according to a statement from Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.
Watts was not able to immediately confirm a cause of death for the two men, according to the statement. An autopsy was performed, but the coroner is still awaiting further tests.
The coroner does not suspect foul play, though, according to the statement.
The case is still being investigated by the Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Columbia Fire Department.
Both Witherspoon and Roper were found dead Thursday morning after police were called to perform welfare checks. First responders in the area noted the smell of gas, but it isn’t clear if that could have killed the pair.
At about midnight, Columbia fire crews were called out to the complex to investigate complaints of residents smelling gas. Crews ultimately found multiple gas leaks at the public housing complex.
Residents were displaced and firecrews continued to investigate the leaks well into Friday morning.
This story was originally published January 18, 2019 at 11:47 AM.
