FLORENCE, SC — A North Carolina man reported missing alongside his wife last week is now facing criminal charges in South Carolina after deputies allegedly found him in a Lake City residence, calmly seated among containers filled with his wife’s dismembered remains, according to authorities.
Charles Antwine, 56, was arrested after investigators discovered what they describe as a gruesome scene in Florence County, where they say limbs and body parts belonging to his wife, Christy Ward, were found in sealed plastic containers in the couple’s home. The investigation began after relatives reported both Antwine and Ward missing from Brunswick County, North Carolina, prompting a regional search.
Florence County deputies said the case took a disturbing turn over the weekend when a patrol deputy at a local boat ramp spotted the partially submerged roof of a vehicle. After recovering the empty car, authorities traced its registration to Antwine and expanded their search to a Lake City address listed under his name.
Upon arriving at the residence, deputies noted a strong, unusual odor and received no response despite repeated knocks on the door. After securing a search warrant, deputies entered the home and found Antwine on a couch surrounded by multiple containers that police later said contained body parts they believe belong to Ward.
The sheriff’s office announced that Antwine faces charges of desecration of human remains, though investigators continue to await results from Ward’s autopsy to determine whether additional charges, including murder, may follow.
Authorities said the recovery of the submerged vehicle and the macabre discovery at the Lake City home were critical developments in the ongoing search for the missing couple. Officials described the scene as “like something out of a horror movie,” with deputies visibly shaken by the case’s grim circumstances.
During a Monday court hearing, Ward’s son, Zachary Ward, spoke emotionally about his mother’s difficult past and recent hardships, underscoring the family’s devastation in the wake of her suspected death.
Online jail records show Antwine remained in custody at the Florence County Detention Center as of Tuesday, awaiting a bond hearing that will be determined by a circuit court judge.
Investigators said the case remains active and urged anyone with information to come forward as they work with the Florence County Coroner’s Office to finalize the cause and manner of Ward’s death.
Officials did not immediately disclose a potential motive for Ward’s killing and stressed that more charges may be forthcoming as forensic testing continues. Meanwhile, the community remains unsettled as details of the tragedy surface.
Florence County authorities said they are coordinating with law enforcement in North Carolina to piece together a full timeline of the couple’s disappearance and the subsequent cross-state investigation.