Father and Stepmother Arrested in 1989 Cold Case Killing of 5-Year-Old Son

The father and stepmother of a 5-year-old boy reported missing in 1989 in South Carolina have been arrested and will be charged with murder after the boy's body was found in a camper adjacent to their home, with authorities determining he had been asphyxiated. Evolving DNA and forensic evidence technology helped match a ligature to the victim's shirt collar, and arrest affidavits for each suspect revealed inconsistencies in their statements. The case, which had been withdrawn without prejudice in the past, was kept alive by the victim's cousin, who expressed gratitude for its closure at a news conference. The sheriff emphasized the tragic nature of the murder and the impact it had on the community.