Bodies Found In Barrels Identified As Andrea Kellie Mitchell 37 & Tony McGinnis 53/

UNDATED - South Carolina authorities have released the identities of the two bodies found in separate barrels at Lake Hartwell earlier this week.

According to CBS Atlanta the body found in the first barrel is that Andrea Kellie Mitchell, 37, of Anderson. Mitchell was identified through fingerprints according to the report.

And the man found in the second barrel has been identified as Tony McGinnis, 53,of Starr.

The report said that deputies described McGinnis as a vagrant, and that he was reported missing in September. McGinnis' body had been dismembered.

Investigators attribute the dropping water level of the Georgia-South Carolina reservoir as enabling them to discover the barrels.

The investigation into the two deaths, both considered homicides by authorities, is ongoing.

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6:45 PM, Nov 17, 2012 | Comments

Written by
Clark Brooks
Staff Writer

A second suspect has been arrested in the slayings of a man and a woman whose remains were found sealed inside barrels in Lake Hartwell, authorities said Saturday.

John Michael Young, 35, of 3605 Centerville Road, Anderson, faces two counts of murder, among other charges, according to warrants. He was captured early Saturday morning and locked up in the Anderson County Detention Center, deputies said.

Investigators on Friday arrested Shaine David Fischer, 34, of 419 W. Whitner St., Anderson, who was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact of murder, according to warrants.

The victims have been identified as Andrea Kellie Mitchell, 37, no known address, and Tony Lamar McGinnis, 53, last known to reside in Starr, authorities said. Coroner Greg Shore said McGinnis’ body had been dismembered.

Investigators are not sure of a motive for the slayings, but the victims and suspects “definitely all ran in the same circle of friends,” said Chad McBride, a spokesman for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

“Probably drugs is at the top of the list,” McBride told GreenvilleOnline.com. “We’re just not going to say that’s what it was for sure.”

McGinnis died in September, Mitchell in October, and both suffered blunt force trauma to the head, according to the warrants. The barrel containing Mitchell’s body was found Wednesday near Asbury Park, and the one with McGinnis’ remains was found Thursday near the intersection of Centerville and Sandy Springs roads, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Both victims were killed in a wooded area on Hicks Road in Anderson County, according to the warrants. Investigators moved quickly once the bodies were found in the lake.

“We’ve had a couple of obviously great breaks in the case and we’ve been able to go ahead and arrest the two that we feel are responsible,” McBride said. “But it’s still early in the investigation.”

A passerby spotted one of the barrels in the lake and notified authorities, McBride said, and a deputy went out to take a look. The concern at first was that the barrel might contain toxic substances, he said, but once the deputy got close to the barrel, an odor warned of the grisly contents.

The sheriff’s dive team found the second barrel, McBride said, and deputies in boats continued searching the lake until Friday.

“No more bodies, no more barrels, nothing like that in that area of the lake,” McBride said.

Investigators don’t expect to make additional arrests, he said, but they still haven’t ruled out finding more victims. They don’t know of any more missing people who were involved with the victims or suspects, but no one had reported Mitchell missing, McBride said, so they can’t say for sure that no one else has been slain.

“We don’t have any reason to believe there are more victims,” he said. “Not saying there wouldn’t be, but we don’t have any reason to believe, unless it’s somebody we just don’t know about. We certainly hope not.”

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Coroner identifies both bodies found in barrels
Kellie Mitchell, Tony Lamar McGinnis identified as victims

UPDATED 4:22 PM EST Nov 16, 2012

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —
As investigators searched a home Friday that may be connected to bodies found inside two barrels in Lake Hartwell, the coroner identified both victims.

ALSO: SECOND BODY FOUND IN BARREL IN UPSTATE LAKE

A second barrel with human remains has been found in an Upstate lake, the day after a woman's body was found in a sealed barrel in the lake.

Coroner Greg Shore identified the victims as 37-year-old Andrea "Kellie" Mitchell, from Pendleton, and 52-year-old Tony Lamar McGinnis, from Starr.
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Coroner Greg Shore said the deaths were homicides caused by traumatic injuries.

News 4’s Mandy Gaither was at the home on Centerville Road when it was searched and said she saw investigators take knives and a chainsaw from the home.

The search warrant was issued Thursday night.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case.

The first barrel with Mitchell's body inside was found Wednesday. The coroner said her body may have been in the barrel for as long as 35 days.

"The investigators are going to be trying to check out her background, try to figure out where she came from and how she got in this situation," Chad McBride, the spokesman for the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, said.

Friday afternoon, Shore identified the body in the second barrel is that of McGinnis. Shore said McGinnis' body had been dismembered, but Mitchell's was not.

McGinnis had been reported missing several weeks ago. Anderson County deputies had last spoken to him in September, and no one is known to have heard from him since.

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Man facing two murder charges to appear before judge Sunday

By Kirk Brown
Posted November 17, 2012 at 9:54 p.m.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A dozen orange markers left behind by forensic specialists can be seen in the woods where investigators say Tony Lamar McGinnis and Andrea Kellie Mitchell were brutally slain.

The man accused of killing them, 35-year-old John Michael Young, will appear before a judge Sunday morning. He faces two murder charges.

Young appeared for a brief bond hearing Saturday afternoon on charges of unauthorized removal of a dead body, unlawful possession of a handgun and illegal possession of narcotic drugs.

Appearing via closed-circuit TV, Young showed little emotion as he answered several questions posed by Magistrate James Cox.

Cox denied bond for Young.

Young’s attorney, William Norman Epps III, said the murder charges and lesser offenses are all related to the same investigation that resulted in his client’s arrest.

Young was arrested just after midnight Saturday at a home on West Lake Street in Iva, Anderson County sheriff’s officials said.

“We did get several tips, one of which led to this residence,” sheriff’s spokesman Chad McBride said.

According to arrests warrants, Young had 5.1 grams of cocaine and a handgun that had been reported stolen in Abbeville County.

A second man, Shaine David Fischer of Anderson, also faces charges in the case. Fischer, 34, is charged with unauthorized removal of a dead body and two counts of being an accessory after the fact. He is being held without bond at the Anderson County Detention Center.

Mitchell’s body was found Wednesday in a barrel on Hartwell Lake. The dismembered remains of McGinnis was found in another barrel Thursday that was submerged in 13 feet of water, according to Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore. Both barrels were discovered near Camp Reamer Bridge at Centerville and Sandy Springs roads.

According to an arrest warrant and authorities, Young killed McGinnis, 53, with a blow to head on or about Sept. 15 in a wooded area off Hix Road, which is only a short distance from where McGinnis’ body was found. The orange markers near the alleged crime scene are beside a rutted dirt road that leads to a cove on Hartwell Lake.

A separate arrest warrant accuses Young of killing Mitchell, 37, at the same location on or about Oct. 18. Mitchell also died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

Investigators have not discussed a motive for the homicides of McGinnis and Mitchell. They have said both victims were acquainted with Young and Fischer

The oldest of McGinnis’ four daughters said Saturday that her father and Young were friends who had lived together a couple of years ago.

Tiffany McGinnis said her father had a “rough life” but that “nobody deserves” what happened to him.

Her sister, Crystal McGinnis, described their father as a “rambler” who was a “good grandpa” to his eight grandchildren.

Crystal McGinnis filled out a missing-person report for her father after relatives said they had not heard from him since midsummer. His last contact with law enforcement officials came in early September — just days before his death.

“He was a big man with a big heart,” Crystal McGinnis said Saturday night.

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Bond denied man charged with two counts of murder
Young accused in deaths of man, woman found stuffed in barrels submerged in Hartwell

By Jennifer Crossley Howard
Posted November 18, 2012 at 8:04 p.m., updated November 18, 2012 at 8:07 p.m.

ANDERSON — An Anderson man charged with murder in the beating deaths of two people found stuffed into barrels submerged in Hartwell Lake was denied bond Sunday.

John Michael Young, who appeared via closed-circuit television in Anderson County magistrate James Cox's office early Sunday, was respectful but subdued as he answered all of the judge's questions with a "Yes, sir."

Cox said that he could not under South Carolina law set bond for a defendant facing murder charges. A second bond hearing will have to be scheduled with a circuit-court judge, a process that sheriff's office spokesman Chad McBride said could take a couple of weeks.

"Mr. Young, do you agree to talk to me this morning on video?" Cox said.

"Yes, sir," Young answered.

Young nodded when the magistrate told him that he had a court date set for 9 a.m. Dec. 14.

"They'll call your name three times," Cox said. "If you don't answer, they'll issue a bench warrant for you."

Young, who is 35, has 10 days to request a preliminary hearing if he wants one, Cox said. Cox also said that Young faces up to 30 years or life in prison if he is found guilty on a murder charge.

Neither Young nor his attorney, William Norman Epps III, had any questions for the judge, and the hearing was over in less than three minutes.

Young is charged in the deaths of Andrea Kellie Mitchell, 37, and Tony Lamar McGinnis, 53.

Their bodies were discovered last week near Camp Reamer Bridge at Centerville and Sandy Springs roads, about a mile from where Young lives. Mitchell, found Wednesday, and McGinnis, found Thursday, had been stuffed in barrels and submerged in 13 feet of water.

Both had died of blows to the head — Mitchell in October and McGinnis in September, autopsies showed.

Young had already been denied bond Saturday on lesser charges, including unauthorized removal of a dead body, unlawful possession of a handgun and illegal possession of narcotic drugs.

Another man, Shaine David Fischer, 34, of Anderson, also faces charges in the case — unauthorized removal of a dead body and two counts of being an accessory after the fact. His bond also has been refused.

He and Young remained Sunday at the Anderson County Detention Center.

Young, Fischer, Mitchell and McGinnis knew each other, according to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and McGinnis' daughter. McGinnis and Young were friends and roommates a few years ago.

Both victims had histories of methamphetamine offenses, and Fischer has pleaded guilty to several drugs charges.

Young has no known criminal history in Anderson County.

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must see video above.

How sad.

These damned drugs!!

More learned about suspect in case of bodies in barrels
John Michael Young charged with murder

UPDATED 12:23 PM EST Nov 20, 2012

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —
A man accused in the deaths of two people whose bodies were found inside barrels in Lake Hartwell has an arrest record that started when he was 17, News 4 has learned.

Young and Shaine David Fischer, both of Anderson, are charged in the deaths of 37-year-old Andrea "Kellie" Mitchell, from Pendleton, and 52-year-old Tony Lamar McGinnis, from Starr.

News 4 has learned Young’s arrest record dates back to 1994 and includes drug and larceny charges. He was charged with criminal domestic violence in 2005.

The tip that let to the arrest came from Young’s longtime friend, Bobby Hall. He had no idea his friend was in trouble until he saw Young's picture on the news and confronted him.

"You come here saying you have wife trouble, now I see your picture on the news. I said, ‘Hey, I got to know something.’ So he told me, he said, 'Yeah, they trying to set me up on that murder charge,’ and he said, ‘Bobby, I didn't have anything to do with it.’

"I said, ‘Man, I know you didn't do this,’ but I said, ‘The situation you in, I said, you know if they come in here now and find you here they're going to put me in prison.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I don't want to see you get in no trouble.’ He said, ‘I tell you what, I'm going to lay here in this chair and go to sleep. You go do what you think you ought to.’ That's the exact words he told me."

Hall said he called police because he knew they were looking for Young.

“After I had to call 911, it was just like turning my own son in,” he said.

On Sunday, Young was charged with two counts of murder and the unauthorized removal of a dead body.

Hours after his arrest on Saturday, Young appeared before Judge James Cox on other charges related to the investigation, including drug and pistol-related charges.

Young is being held without bond at the Anderson County Detention Center.

Deputies said Fischer was already in custody. He is charged with two counts of accessory after the fact of murder. Investigators say he helped dispose of the bodies.

Deputies say Young killed McGinnis and Mitchell by causing blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators say it happened in the woods on Hix Road in Anderson County. They say they believe McGinnis was killed on or around September 15 and that Mitchell was killed on or around October 18.

"I just want to know why all this happened and what was the motive behind it all," Neka Smith, McGinnis' eldest daughter told WYFF.

Smith did not want to discuss what her father's life was like at the time of this death but, instead, hinted at a few problems in a letter she wrote to share with the public.

"My dad was not a perfect man, by no means. He did the things he did and lived the life he lived, but underneath it all, he was still my dad," Smith read. "If he was here today, I still could never ask him to change his ways. I just wish he could have left this world in another way than how he left this world. I will never ever get the chance to tell him good-bye in the way I would have. "

Deputies executed a search warrant at Young’s home on Friday and collected some evidence that News 4’s Mandy Gaither said included knives and a chain saw.

Mitchell's body was found inside a barrel on Wednesday in Lake Hartwell. Coroner Greg Shore said her body may have been in the barrel for as long as 35 days.

Friday afternoon, Shore identified the body in the second barrel as that of McGinnis. Shore said McGinnis' body had been dismembered, but Mitchell's was not.

McGinnis had been reported missing several weeks ago. Anderson County deputies had last spoken to him in September, and no one had heard from him since.

News 4 has learned that Mitchell and McGinnis knew each other and deputies believe they were targeted. Investigators say the suspects were among the victims' group of friends.

Funeral arrangements have been set for Mitchell at the Brown-Ogelsby Funeral Home in Seneca. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. A service takes place in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Mitchell left behind a husband, Randy, and two sons, Jacob and Jonathan.

A memorial service for McGinnis is set for 1pm Saturday at Labor of the Fields at 493 Airline Rd. in Anderson.

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Must-See Video above.

Man Accused Of Burying People In Barrels Appears In Court

By: WSPA STAFF | News Channel 7
Published: December 14, 2012

ANDERSON, SC --
A man charged with killing two people and placing them in barrels that were later pulled out of Lake Hartwell was in court Friday.

John Michael Young is charged with the murders of 53-year-old Tony Lamar McGinnis and 37-year-old Andrea Kellie Mitchell. According to our news coverage partners at the Anderson Independent-Mail, a magistrate court judge ruled that the murder charges will proceed and go to a grand jury for deliberations.

According to the Independent-Mail, Anderson County Sheriff's Office investigators Lacey Holden testified that a barrel-sized "ring of blood" was found in a shed behind Young's home. She added that Shaine David Fischer, who was charged with accessory after the fact to the two murders, told investigators that he walked away from Young's Jeep Cherokee when he heard a sound, walked over and saw Mitchell on the ground and Young holding a baseball bat.

According to the Independent-Mail, Holden said the killing was similar to that of McGinnis.

"They were doing dope and he (Fischer) was looking for something," she said. "Mr. Fischer said he heard a thud, saw McGinnis on the ground and Mr. Young holding a bat."

The bodies of McGinnis and Mitchell were each taken back to Young's home, about three-quarters of a mile away, in his Jeep Cherokee, Holden said.

Mitchell's body was not dismembered; her legs were folded over to make her fit in the barrel, Holden said.

McGinnis' body was chopped into several pieces, and Fischer told investigators he was unable to help with dumping the barrel because of the smell, Holden said.

Another man, Michael Scott, helped Young dispose of McGinnis' barrel, which he believed contained methamphetamine waste, Holden said.

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John Michael Young