COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Richland County Coroner has identified remains found a week ago as Adriana Laster, a woman who disappeared over 12 years ago in the county. And investigators already believe they know who killed her.
Coroner Naida Rutherford announced the results of tests conducted over the last week on the remains, which she said positively identified them as Laster. At the same time, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Elgin Police are obtaining warrants for Freddie Grant, a convicted murderer who is already serving decades in prison for killing a Richland County teen over a decade ago.
Laster's remains were found on Jan. 12 at a sand pit located off Highway Church Road in northeast Richland County. A construction worker at the sand pit site was digging with an excavator that day when he discovered the remains. Deputies who responded to the scene found what appeared to a human legbone and about a five-foot deep grave that was hidden under the sand.
Officers then found plaid and leopard print clothing that was lying with the remains. Richland County crime scene investigators were then called in to process the area. Other human bones were also located.
Rutherford said there has been an extensive effort to find her remains, but only part of them have been found. Crews have been out for a week searching with machinery and digging by hand, and their goal is to find all of her remains so they can determine a cause of death.
Rutherford said the grave was dug before a mining company took over the property in 2018.
Rutherford and Lott said their goal is to find closure for Laster's family.
"The family just wanted a pinky," Rutherford, who had spoken with the family about the discovery, said.
Laster was last seen in the town of Elgin on Sept. 3, 2011, while on her way to church.
Lott said Laster knew Freddie Grant, who is serving 30 years in prison for killing teenager Gabbiee Swainson. Grant killed Swainson in 2012 and put her body in a grave he dug in northeast Richland County.
Lott said Grant was always the main suspect in Laster's death, and Elgin Police never gave up working on the case.
"I called Freddie Grant a monster back then [in 2013], and I'll stand here and call him that because that's what he is," Lott said. "A monster continues to haunt this community."
Lott said Grant was moved to a more secure facility in the Department of Corrections. Lott said they attempted to interview him Thursday, but he refused to speak to investigators.
Lott also said they're looking at Grant in connection with another case, which he didn't reveal, but said no charges are pending. Lott said investigators continue to work on that case, too.
"I'd love to see him dead," Lott said.