GREEN POND, SOUTH CAROLINA: A 33-year-old Green Pond man has been arrested after a potential arson killed six people and left one person gravely injured. The Colleton County Sheriff's Office discovered the bodies at around 11:00 am on Sunday, June 02 after they responded to reports of a fire on Folly Creek Lane in Green Pond, South Carolina.
Upon their arrival, deputies found the six bodies and the sole surviving injured victim, who was taken to a hospital via emergency flight. Authorities immediately launched a murder investigation into the case and arrested Ryan Lenard Manigo on suspicion of attempted murder. State police with South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating the fire as a potential arson. “SLED was requested today by the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office to assist in an arson and death investigation involving seven victims,” SLED Director of Public Relations Renee said, adding “The SLED Arson Unit, SLED Crime Scene Unit, Agents with SLED’s Low Country Region, and SLED’s Special Victim’s Unit (SVU) are responding.”
What are the charges against Ryan Lenard Manigo?
Manigo is currently facing charges for the attempted murder of the surviving victim, according to the official press release. According to deputies, additional charges are pending the identification and autopsies of the victims. “Additional charges are pending the victim’s identification and autopsy results,” the release said. Manigo is currently held in the Colleton County Detention Center and is awaiting his bond hearing, the sheriff’s office said. It is unknown if he has an attorney.
Following Manigo’s arrest, it was revealed that he has a long criminal history that dates back to 2008. As per The Sun, Manigo was convicted of armed robbery in March 2011, but the state chose not to pursue him on counts of having a weapon while committing a violent crime and kidnapping. A grand jury determined in July 2015 that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of first-degree criminal sexual behavior. In March 2017, he was arrested for kidnapping but later in July, the state again declined to prosecute him.
‘The most hurtful part’
Curtis Magwood, a pastor and family member of the victims, mourned his close ones’ death saying “The unfortunate part about it is we can’t even identify them, so going beyond that part, the last time we saw them was the last time that we’ll ever see them. So, that’s something we have to live with, and that’s the most hurtful part of the whole thing.” Magwood added that the victims' families had a significant influence on their neighborhoods and surrounding towns. Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Arson Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and Special Victim’s Unit are assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.
