YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- The body of a young woman was found dumped and burned along a remote road in Kings Mountain State Park.
Detectives are asking for the public's help identifying the victim.
York County Sheriff's Office investigators spent several hours Monday morning along a stretch of the park, stopping drivers near Apple Road. They say they weren't looking for suspects, but they were hoping for any information to help identify the girl.
The biggest clue they have is a picture of her tattoo.
Someone on horseback found the young woman's body shortly after noon Sunday along the side of the road in Kings Mountain State Park.
At the scene, you can see what's left of what appears to be a burn pile. Investigators confirm the woman's body was burned.
"We were shocked, really surprised that it happened here," said Lynne Saucier, who often rides horses in the area.
Saucier said she's not surprised the woman's remains were found so easily, and she says that may offer a clue about her killer.
"I don't think they knew the area. There are so many horseback riders here on the weekend," she said.
Police don't know the victim's identity. Officers say their best clue is a tattoo on her upper right arm. Investigators also say they believe the victim is between 13 and 20 years old, 5-feet-5 and 115 pounds.
"It happened about a month ago, a similar thing in this same area. It's pretty scary," Saucier said, referring to the case of 17-year-old Heather Catterton.
She was found murdered in a York County ditch about three weeks ago. That case is still unsolved.
Investigators say it's too early to connect the two cases.
"It seems awful similar circumstances," Saucier said.
Detectives say they don't have a cause of death in the latest case. They're awaiting autopsy results.
Anyone with information on the case should call the York County Sheriff's Office at 803-628-3059.
