South Carolina

Six people found dead in house fire that’s being investigated as murder, SC sheriff says

To read Monday’s update in this story, click here.

Six people were found dead and another was critically injured following a fire at a South Carolina home that’s being investigated as murder, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday night.

At about 11 a.m., deputies responded to a fire at a house on Folly Creek Lane in Green Pond, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The Colleton County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the six victims who died, and information about their causes of death was not available.

After being discovered, the one surviving victim was taken to a local hospital, according to the release. The sheriff’s office said the surviving victim is in critical condition, but additional information was not available.

Ryan Lenard Manigo, 33, was charged with attempted murder in connection to the surviving victim, according to the release. The sheriff’s office said additional charges are pending the victims’ identifications and autopsy results.

There was no word how the sheriff’s office connected Manigo to the fire, or how the blaze was determined to be an intentional criminal act.

Manigo is being held at the Colleton County Detention Center while awaiting a bond hearing, jail records show.

The investigation is ongoing and the sheriff’s office asks anyone with information to call 843-549-2211. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s arson team is assisting with the investigation.

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This story was originally published July 2, 2023 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Six people found dead in house fire that’s being investigated as murder, SC sheriff says."

Noah Feit
The State
Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription
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