It’s been nearly four months since human remains were discovered in Bennettsville, South Carolina. On April 23, the Bennettsville Police Department shared a news release on Facebook saying officers were “actively investigating the discovery of human remains found within a trash receptacle at a local housing apartment.” Police responded to the scene after receiving a report of “suspicious contents inside a trash can.”
Four days later, authorities announced they had arrested Luke Douglas Jr., who they “believed to be the last person to have seen” the victim. At the time, the person’s identity had not been positively determined. In announcing the arrest, police said Douglas had “provided information and evidence that led to a confession” in which he “admitted to concealing the victim’s remains by placing the decomposing body in a storage area within the apartment where he resided” before disposing of them.
Now, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office has shared an update in the investigation. The office said the Marlboro County Coroner’s Office had positively identified the remains. “The Marlboro County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that the remains have been positively identified as LaShaunda Spurlock, 43, of Chesterfield County,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
LaShaunda was last seen outside her home in Society Hill in April 2024. “Dateline” featured her disappearance in its Missing in America digital series in November of that year. Her sister, Tabitha Caudell, told “Dateline” at the time that a neighbor saw LaShaunda getting into a car on April 29. “A neighbor reported seeing her getting into a red older model vehicle, possibly a Kia Soul, on that day around 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with two men,” Tabitha said. “She hasn’t been seen since.”
“For nearly two years, the Spurlock family has lived with uncertainty while holding onto hope and searching for answers,” the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook this week. “While this confirmation provides an answer to one of the many questions surrounding LaShaunda’s disappearance, we know this news also brings unimaginable heartbreak to those who love her.”
Douglas has been charged with destruction, desecration or removal of human remains and destroying, altering, concealing or tampering with physical evidence or biological material, according to the Marlboro County court website. He has not yet appeared in court. “Dateline” reached out to Douglas’ attorney for comment but has not yet heard back.
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