Sumter Co. woman and kids’ home burned, boyfriend charged

A 24-year-old Sumter County man was charged Friday with burning down his girlfriend’s home, leaving the unnamed woman and her children homeless.

Brandon Cory Dowless is accused of “intentionally burning the home” on the 4000 block of Livingwood Drive in Wedgefield on Thursday night, Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a news release. Wedgefield is located about 11 miles west of Sumter.

An investigation into the arson continues and more charges against Dowless may be brought, Dennis said.

Dowless was being held at the Sumter-Lee Detention Center Friday night awaiting a bond hearing.

By Rachael Myers Lowe

This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 9:38 PM with the headline "Sumter Co. woman and kids’ home burned, boyfriend charged."