The authorities have identified the suspect as Eric Shawn Fetzer, 25, who has been charged with destruction, desecration, or removal of human remains, according to local news outlet FOX Carolina.
The arrest was made after the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, along with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the emergency management offices of Spartanburg County and Cherokee County, launched an investigation at Lake Thicketty in rural Gaffney. The investigation took place on Thursday.
The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office has confirmed that the remains found in the barrel belong to Jeffrey Sutphin, 56, who was reported missing on June 15.
Sheriff Steve Mueller stated that the authorities discovered the remains after retrieving the partially submerged barrel from the lake and opening it, as reported by local CBS affiliate WSPA.
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Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler stated, "Deputies found the barrel near the shore and upon opening it found human remains.
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It appears the body had been in the container for a number of days." The investigators suspect foul play in relation to the body found in the barrel.
Sheriff Mueller mentioned that the investigation is still ongoing, with four investigators currently following leads and gathering information.
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He stated, "It's part of an ongoing investigation that led us to that area to search and look for human remains."
The Cherokee County Coroner's Office conducted interviews with a person of interest, leading them to conclude that the man died in Spartanburg County.
As a result, the case has been transferred to the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office and Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for further investigation.
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