EFFINGHAM, SC – What began as an ordinary trip to adopt a new puppy ended in tragedy for a South Carolina woman now at the center of a shocking homicide investigation. Authorities say 40-year-old Dana Marie Kinlaw, a resident of Olanta, was lured under false pretenses, gunned down, and then set on fire in what investigators describe as a calculated act of revenge.
Kinlaw’s final day began with hope as she traveled with a friend, expecting to add a new dog to her family. Instead, she was led to a rural crossroads near Atlantic Road and Springbranch Road in Effingham, a quiet farming community about 65 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach. According to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Kinlaw was ambushed, shot, and her body set ablaze inside her car.
Deputies responded to the scene just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 after reports of a vehicle fire. When first responders arrived, the car was still engulfed in flames. The Florence County Coroner’s Office later identified Kinlaw and notified her family. An autopsy was scheduled for this week, but initial findings suggest she died as a result of gunshot wounds and subsequent burning.
Investigators have classified the killing as retaliatory. According to statements from law enforcement, it is suspected that Kinlaw was targeted due to alleged involvement of her son in a recent homicide in nearby Darlington County, roughly 35 miles away. Officials suggest Kinlaw was unwittingly pulled into a cycle of violence rooted in vengeance.
Authorities arrested three individuals in connection with Kinlaw’s murder: Iryanna Jarisha Fleming, 19; Daquinn Taheen Thomas, 31; and Nikko Christopher Carraway, 31. All three are facing charges of murder, first-degree arson, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Fleming and Thomas were taken into custody first and are currently held at the Florence County Detention Center. Carraway was apprehended on Wednesday.
Law enforcement allege that Fleming, described as an acquaintance of Kinlaw, accompanied her to the remote location under the guise of the pet adoption. What transpired after remains under close investigation, but authorities say Kinlaw was attacked with little warning.
Details released so far paint a disturbing picture of the events. After Kinlaw was shot, investigators believe an accelerant was used to set the car — and Kinlaw’s body — on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence or deliver a cruel final message.
Kinlaw’s death has left the small community of Olanta in shock as neighbors remember her as a devoted mother and friend. Family members have expressed heartbreak, describing Kinlaw’s trust in meeting someone to buy a puppy as a reflection of her open and caring nature.
Investigators are continuing to piece together the full motive and whether more individuals may have been involved in planning the killing. For now, the focus is on securing justice for Kinlaw, whose life ended far from the joyful purpose she set out for that day.