Woman found dead in her home is a homicide victim, SC coroner says
A homicide investigation is underway days after a woman’s body was discovered in her South Carolina home, the Sumter County Coroner’s Office said.
On the night of July 9, family members found 61-year-old Mariam Hardee inside her home in the 2800 block of Ithica Drive, the coroner’s office said in a news release that was sent at about midnight Saturday night. That’s in Sumter, in the area between U.S. 15 and Manchester State Forest.
Hardee’s body was discovered on the kitchen floor and officials believe that she had been dead for more than a day, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said.
There were no apparent signs of injury on Hardee, and didn’t look like someone entered her home by force, according to the sheriff’s office.
Because of the unknown circumstances surrounding Hardee’s death, an autopsy was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, according to the coroner’s office. Strangulation was determined to be her cause of death, and Hardee is considered a homicide victim, the coroner’s office said.
During their investigation, deputies were told about recent suspicious activity from Hardee’s acquaintances and concerned family members, the sheriff’s office said. Further information about that activity was not available.
Information about who killed Hardee was not available, and no arrests have been reported by the sheriff’s office, which is continuing to investigate the death along with the coroner’s office.
There was no word on a motive for the killing.
“Investigators will continue to pursue this to find the victim and the family the necessary justice,” the coroner’s office said.
Anyone with information about Hardee’s death is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published July 16, 2023 at 8:25 AM.
