Strangulation Possible Cause of Death in A’sha Rucker Case
Investigators are still unsure how 17-year-old A’sha Rucker died, but the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is treating her death as suspicious in nature. GreenvilleOnline.com is reporting that the Williamston teen, whose body was discovered Friday in southern Greenville county, may have been strangled.
Scott Ramsey, Greenville County deputy coroner, said the autopsy revealed A’sha Rucker, 17, had marks on her neck indicating possible strangulation, but “at this point, we can’t confirm” that is how she died.
Investigators estimate that Rucker, who disappeared on Wednesday, died on Thursday, Ramsey said.
The autopsy conducted Saturday was ruled incomplete, and the Greenville County Coroner’s office is awaiting toxicology results. It is worth noting that other area news organizations, including News Channel 7 and WYFF4, are not reporting the possibility of strangulation as a cause of death.
The Palmetto High School student was reported missing by her family on Wednesday. Her body was discovered outside an abandoned home in Greenville county Friday evening, just east of Ware Place near the intersection of Long Cane Road and Highway 418.
The teen’s family believes she was killed.
“There’s no way A’sha would not have contacted her mother during this time unless she was being held against her will, or she just couldn’t,” said Heather Holcombe, who the family has asked to speak on their behalf. “Of course we found out on Friday night, that was exactly the reason.”
The ongoing investigation is being conducted jointly by the Williamston Police Department and Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
Home Based Meth Labs Found in Greer and Fountain Inn
Two couples in the area have been arrested for cooking methamphetamine in their homes recently. One couple had children at home at the time:
LAURENS, S.C. — A Fountain Inn couple is accused of cooking methamphetamine around their children.
Randall and Tracy King were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drugs and improperly disposing of chemicals on Thursday.
Deputies said that they received a tip about the drug activity at the couple’s home on Meadowland Drive. They said that they found materials inside the home consistent with making the drug. They said the same type of materials were also found in a building outside the home.
The Kings’ children were placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
Investigators said that the couple could also be charged with child endangerment.
Fox Carolina also has a video report.
A couple from Greer was also found cooking meth in their home, which was located dangerously close to a school:
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A Greer couple has been charged with manufacturing methamphetamine after deputies searched their home on Oct. 30.
Deputies said that when they searched the home at 120 Valley Forge Drive they found items that are commonly associated with making and selling methamphetamine.
Roger Durham, 38, and Vicki Durham, 41, were each charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute within a half-mile of a school.
Roger Durham was released on $75,000 bond. Vicki Durham was being held at the Greenville County Detention Center on $75,000 bond.
E. Richard Walton has a fairly comprehensive report at The Greenville News, including the fact that the lab was less than a quarter mile from an elementary school. Ignore the awkward language if you can.
Easy to cook with minimal time and equipment, meth is making inroads into almost every community. The cooking process is so toxic and dangerous that these labs have literally endangered the lives of everyone in the immediate vicinity. In addition to the unpredictability of users and the criminality of addicts, the meth trade brings the additional threat of highly flammable laboratories which spew poisonous chemicals into the area. They are set up where ever cookers can find space. Unfortunately, basements and garages in residential areas are well suited for this dangerous activity.