Identity of woman found in car submerged in Wateree River released by coroner’s office

The Richland County Coroner’s office has released the name of the individual who was found late Saturday night in a vehicle submerged in the Wateree River.

The body of Charlene Elizabeth Fulton, 53, of Columbia, was found in the back seat of the vehicle submerged in the river near the William Tolar Boat Landing, Coroner Gary Watts said in a statement released Monday night.

Fulton had been missing since Nov. 23, 2014. An autopsy showed that the cause of death was drowning, Watts said.

Richland County deputies responded to the scene shortly after 11 p.m. after a fisherman in the area spotted the vehicle south of the landing, sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Curtis Wilson said.

Richland County investigators said the incident is no longer considered suspicious. The Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate.

Staff reports

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 12:19 PM.