Remains discovered in 2012 identified as 19-year-old Orangeburg resident

Orangeburg County investigators have released the name of an individual whose remains were discovered by a hunter in 2012 just outside of Orangeburg, officials say.

Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said Wednesday the decomposed remains found behind an abandoned home on Five Chop Road on Jan. 28, 2012 were that of 19-year-old John Anthony Samuel Spells. Spells’ remains were discovered after a hunter in the area called law enforcement stating that he believed a body may be underneath some boards at the residence.

Ravenell said investigators determined at the time that Spells’ remains had been at the location for an undetermined, but lengthy, time frame. When the news initially broke, law enforcement released photographs of Spells’ jacket and gym shorts in hopes of gaining information pertaining to the case.

“It’s been a difficult case to work due to the condition of the individual’s remains,” Ravenell said. “But we weren’t going to give up on this victim. We were determined to identify him for his family’s sake.”

During the initial search, agencies across the states and in bordering states were checked for missing persons matching Spells’ description but none reported a missing person that fit.

In August 2013, a facial reconstruction completed by the State Law Enforcement Division was released to the media, Ravenell said. A family of the victim came forward at that time inquiring about a missing person. DNA testing requested by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office came back this week and was a match on Spells’ Lowcountry relative.

Ravenell said Spells is believed to have lived on Triangle Road in Orangeburg prior to his disappearance, and he was never reported missing. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of death.

If anyone has information regarding Spells’ disappearance or death, they are urged to call the sheriff’s office at (803) 534-3550 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (888)-CRIME-SC.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 8:31 AM.