Camden man, 29, arrested in connection to double homicide of women found in Rembert

Sumter County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a man who allegedly killed Christine McAbee and Kristen Grissom, the two women who were discovered on Richbow Road in Rembert on Aug. 8. 

Tiamo Henry Mitchell Drakeford, 29, of Camden, was arrested on Sept. 12 and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and desecration of human remains, according to Mark Bordeaux, public information officer for Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. 

According to earlier reporting, deputies arrived at Richbow Road just after 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, to find the bodies of 35-year-old McAbee, of Walterboro in Colleton County, and 38-year-old Grissom, of North Charleston, placed just off a driveway. According to Sheriff Anthony Dennis, the women were acquaintances and their bodies appeared to be transported and placed at that location, based on the conditions of the bodies when found and the landowner’s inspection of the property 24 hours before the bodies were discovered. Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker said they appeared to be at the location for a day to a day and a half. 

Dennis thought the crime was targeted and not a random act of violence. 

After the arrest of Drakeford, Dennis emphasized the arrest does not conclude the investigation, as more arrests are anticipated. He expressed gratitude for the hard work of investigators as well as SLED for providing agents who worked alongside deputies. 

Several other agencies, including North Charleston Police Department, City of Camden Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the investigation. 

An investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.