Body found in Columbia lake identified as missing USC Aiken student
A body that was found in a northeast Columbia lake has been identified by the Richland County Coroner’s Office as the man who a family and investigators had been searching for.
Wednesday, Coroner Naida Rutherford identified the victim as 20-year-old University of South Carolina Aiken student Theron Wallace.
“This has been a difficult week for the Wallace family,” Rutherford said. “While we didn’t get the results we hoped for, we are grateful that this family can begin the process for healing.”
The Wallace family had been searching for him since Dec. 25.
During winter break, he had returned to his parents’ home in the Lake Carolina neighborhood, said David Lucas of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
A search for Wallace included dive teams, boaters, aircraft and search dogs. The Department of Natural Resources teams discovered a kayak and paddle on the first day of the search, Lucas said.
Investigators discovered Wallace’s body in the lake on Tuesday.
The cause and manner of Wallace’s death has yet to be determined, Rutherford said. The coroner’s office is waiting for the results of testing to rule out foul play, drugs and alcohol.
The coroner’s office and the natural resources department continue to investigate Wallace’s death.
Wallace was a psychology major and involved on campus as a USC Aiken Admissions Ambassador, school officials said.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew him,” USC Aiken chancellor Dr. Daniel Heimmermann said.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 3:22 PM.
