Man sought in city death investigation arrested by Sumter County authorities for other charges

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A man wanted in connection to a death investigation in the city was arrested by county authorities on Wednesday for other charges.

Carter W. Strother, 70, is charged with two counts of stalking and one count of second-degree assault and battery for allegedly threatening residents at a house in the 4400 block of Wrangler Trail.

Strother and an unidentified co-defendant are accused of driving through the victim's yard and firing multiple gunshots before threatening to kill the victim's children, states a release from Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

The victim had previously put Strother on trespass notice for the residence, states the release.

Strother, with last documented address of 5375 Shen Ave. in Jacksonville, Florida, is also accused of following the victim while driving.

In the city, Strother is sought for possible information about the death of 31-year-old Chester "Rock" Stavis who was reportedly last seen on Nov. 15 and found dead on Nov. 21 with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest,
according to Sumter Police Department and Sumter County Coroner's Office.

Stavis' body was found in a creek off of Dicks Street.

City investigators learned Stavis was with an acquaintance the day he was last seen alive.

Since his arrest, city police have started interviewing Strother, said Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the police department.

Strother is known to frequent the U.S. 15 South area of Sumter County, she said in a previous statement.

She said the investigation will determine if Strother has information on what happened.