Perseus Lonnie Grice, 77, died following a fire inside his mobile home in Darlington County.

Perseus Lonnie Grice, 77, died following a fire inside his mobile home in Darlington County.

The fatal Darlington County fire death of Perseus Lonnie Grice.

Darlington County authorities have identified a deceased man whose body was discovered after flames consumed a mobile home. Perseus Lonnie Grice, who was 77 years old, is the victim.

An official with the Darlington County Coroner’s office determined Mr. Grice’s death was a homicide investigation. The fire incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on September 18th at a property on Eagle Point Drive, located near Turnpike Road.

Investigators have arrested Jody Hairston and are charging him with murder and possessing burglary tools. Mr. Hairston is currently held at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center. His arrest happened on Friday, and alongside these charges, he faces accusations including two counts of armed robbery, first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, two counts of possessing a weapon during a violent crime, second-degree burglary, and grand larceny.

According to legal documents supporting the arrest, Mr. Hairston is accused of attacking Mr. Grice in the throat with a sharp object at the Eagle Point Drive home. He allegedly then ignited a fire in the kitchen area and stole Mr. Grice’s 2016 Ford Fusion before escaping the scene.

Law enforcement officials reported that Mr. Hairston’s alleged criminal activity commenced around 11:00 p.m. on September 18th. Initially, officers were dispatched to a house on Baytree Road near Florence due to a reported armed robbery incident. The residents there stated that a suspect had entered their driveway, pointed a weapon, and demanded personal belongings before retreating on foot and leaving behind a vehicle.

Subsequently, officers followed the vehicle to the Eagle Point Drive address, where they found Mr. Grice deceased inside the dwelling. Examination of the evidence indicated that Mr. Grice had suffered an assault prior to the home being set ablaze and his automobile being stolen.

Further charges against Mr. Hairston were added after he was apprehended following another burglary report in the Turnpike Road vicinity on Saturday. He remains incarcerated pending further court proceedings.