Remains found in SC woods ID’d as man who was missing for years, officials say

Skeletal remains found in a wooded area of South Carolina has been identified as a Columbia man who was missing for years, officials said.

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The human remains found in Fairfield County have been positively identified as Columbia’s Henry Louis Burton Jr., according to a joint investigation led by the Columbia Police Department and Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.

Burton was reported missing by his family on June 16, 2023, police said Wednesday in a news release. Burton was last seen leaving Transitions, a homeless center in Columbia on June 2, 2023, according to the release.

On Nov. 30, 2023, skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area near S.C. 215 North in Jenkinsville, said Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill, who was assisted by the Richland County Coroner’s Office. Information about how the remains were found was not available.

Investigators do not know how Burton’s remains came to be in Fairfield County, police said. Neither the cause nor his manner of death have been determined, as police and the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate.

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There was no word if Burton was alone when he was last seen, or if foul play is suspected in his disappearance.

“Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen Burton after June 2, 2023, or who has information about his whereabouts, activities, or the circumstances that led to his remains being located in Fairfield County to come forward,” police said in the release. “Any information, even that which may seem insignificant, could assist investigators in establishing a timeline and determining what happened to Burton.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 803-545-3500, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.

In the case of an emergency, always call 911.