Homicide investigation launched after body found in woods

Berkeley County authorities are investigating the death of a Conway man whose body was found in the Francis Marion National Forest Tuesday.

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Capt. Rick Ollic said someone noticed a Chevrolet Suburban on Brick Church Road, less than a mile from Highway 41 in the southwest area of the forest and reported it to authorities.

Investigators found Robert Lamar Moultrie, 31, of Conway, inside the SUV along the forestry road around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury said. The body was sent to Medical University Hospital for an autopsy.

The man’s aunt came into the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office Monday and said Moultrie had been missing since Sunday night. She said Moultrie was upset and gave the impression he might harm himself, the incident report said.

Moultrie was convicted of selling cocaine in 2009 in Horry County and has been charged with several other crimes, some of them dismissed.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office on the case.

The discovery comes two weeks after two Berkeley County women were found shot to death in the Francis Marion National Forest, although their bodies were discovered in two separate areas more than 20 miles north.

Two men have been charged with murder and are in jail.

Anyone with information about Moultrie should call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111 or the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office at 719-4412.