Investigators identified 76-year-old Patrick S. McAllister; authorities are working to confirm the second victim through forensic records.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A welfare check Thursday night on Evelyn Drive ended with the discovery of two burned bodies and the arrest of 46-year-old Kevin Matthew McAllister, who remained in the county jail Saturday after a judge denied bond, officials said.
The coroner’s office said deputies arrived just before 9 p.m. Thursday and found two people dead inside the residence with significant thermal damage. One victim was identified as Patrick S. McAllister, 76, of Cowpens. The second victim has not been named. On Saturday afternoon, bond court officials said McAllister would be held on a murder count and on a charge tied to destruction, desecration or removal of human remains. The court noted his lack of cooperation during booking and said a mugshot was not available. The sheriff’s office labeled the case a homicide and said more details would come after autopsies and lab tests are complete.
Authorities did not release a possible motive or describe the sequence of events leading to the deaths. The coroner listed Patrick McAllister’s time of death as 9 p.m. Thursday. Investigators said the condition of the bodies made visual identification impossible; Patrick McAllister’s name was confirmed through a surgical implant. For the second victim, the coroner said forensic routes could include dental records or DNA. Detectives canvassed the area Friday and Saturday for surveillance video and spoke with neighbors about any unusual activity on Evelyn Drive. Officials did not announce any additional arrests or persons of interest.
Homicide cases in Spartanburg County typically involve a joint process with the sheriff’s office and the coroner coordinating scene work, autopsies and next-of-kin notifications. In cases where remains are burned, investigators rely on medical devices, dental charts and genetic testing to establish identity. That verification step can affect how quickly names are released publicly and how death certificates are completed. The sheriff’s office said the welfare check originated from a concern about the residents’ well-being; who placed the call has not been publicly disclosed. The home remained taped off through Friday as evidence teams documented the scene, according to neighbors.
McAllister appeared in magistrate court Saturday, when bond was denied due to the seriousness of the allegations and the active investigation. Jail logs listed him at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. A preliminary hearing date was not immediately provided. The coroner’s office said autopsies were underway and that testing results would inform both the cause and manner of death entries. Once the second victim is confirmed, officials said they will notify family before any release. Investigators said they are reviewing tips and compiling a timeline between Thursday afternoon and the welfare check just before 9 p.m.
Residents along Evelyn Drive described a heavy law enforcement presence beginning late Thursday and continuing into the weekend. One neighbor said cruisers rotated at the address and that crime scene tape blocked the driveway for most of Friday. Officials offered no estimate for when the scene would be cleared or when additional information would be released. “We will share updates when we can do so accurately,” the coroner said in a brief statement Saturday evening.
As of Saturday night, the suspect remained jailed without bond, one victim has been identified, and investigators were still working to name the second victim and determine what led to the deaths. Further updates are expected after autopsy and identification steps conclude.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.