LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — A Columbia man has been charged with the murder of his mother, whose body was discovered floating in the Edisto River by a canoer early December last year. The case, which gripped the community due to its grisly nature, came to a conclusion this Monday when authorities formally charged Terry Lee Self, Jr. with murder following an extensive investigation.
Regina Arroyo, a resident of Barnwell, was last seen alive in December when an argument with her son escalated at his residence, according to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. Detectives have pieced together a timeline of events leading from the altercation to the tragic outcome, wherein Arroyo apparently lost her life to strangulation using a ligature.
Sheriff Koon detailed that after the alleged murder, Self transported his mother’s body to the river, where it was eventually located. This critical breakthrough emerged from ongoing investigative efforts since her disappearance, marking a painstaking seven-month effort by law enforcement to untangle this disturbing case.
The arrest warrant issued shed light on the evidence that has piled up against Self, culminating in the charge of murder stamped by a magistrate who also denied bail. Lexington County authorities have expressed hope that this advancement in the case will finally offer some solace and closure to Arroyo’s grieving family and friends.
In addition to facing charges for his mother’s murder, Self is currently held at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County on separate, unrelated charges. The convergence of these legal troubles places Self in a precarious legal stance, awaiting trial in a case that has invoked both community concern and media attention.
The efforts of Lexington County detectives underline the complexities of resolving missing persons cases, especially those that turn into homicide investigations. These cases often require not only meticulous detective work but also a sensitive approach to handling the bereaved families involved.
With the legal proceedings underway, the local community and Arroyo’s family await forthcoming developments, hoping for justice to be rendered in a case that has brought unexpected tragedy and attention to this quiet part of South Carolina.