Moncks Corner man charged in death of missing woman

The Berkeley County Sheriff's office has charged Moncks Corner resident Hampton Burbage, 41, with murder and first degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the death of Teresa Jo Moore.

Moore, 45, had been missing since May 6. She was last seen walking on U.S. 17A toward Moncks Corner accompanied by a man on a red bicycle. A body found Monday morning in some woods between Cypress Gardens and Oakley roads was positively identified today as Moore.

Burbage matched the description given of the man on the bicycle and was being questioned by sheriff's deputies earlier this week. He is a registered sex offender.

Berkeley officials released few other details at a 4 p.m. news conference, except to say that they think Moore was killed shortly after she was spotted walking on the road.

Results of the autopsy were inconclusive because of the condition of the body, authorities said, but they had enough information to charge Burbage with murder. Earlier, coroner's officials said they would need to submit DNA tests to confirm the woman's identity. They expected those results to take anywhere from a few days to a month.

Burbage's bond hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Read more in Thursday's edition of The Post and Courier.