Local Radar

Marion Key search continues
New information rumored
web posted November 21, 2005

The search for Marion Key continues in earnest according to the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion Key family. Mr. Key, who went missing almost five months ago, was last seen leaving his job at the North Augusta Wal-Mart near midnight on July 12, 2005 but never made it home. Edgefield County Sheriff’s Investigator Phil Ireland said the investigation was “actively continuing.” Melba Key, Mr. Key’s wife said the family had hoped someone would have found something once deer season began, “but so far nothing.”

Mr. Key’s disappearance stunned the Merriwether Community and the county this summer as massive searches got underway and continued for weeks. Search parties contained members of local, area, and state agencies as well as first responders, firemen, EMT’s, and volunteers from the community. A break in the case, the discovery of Mr. Key’s car in Merriwether on September 2nd, brought hope that he would be found soon. It turned out not to be the case.

As EdgefieldDaily.com reported we had been approached several times with information to the general location of the car which later turned out fairly accurate. The rumors we passed along to the Sheriff’s Office turned out to come primarily from Wal-Mart in North Augusta as a source we discovered. Now, it turns out, a new round of rumors have been started at Wal-Mart. These indicate Mr. Key’s body has been found. A quick check with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office found no such discovery has been made. The location described is in Edgefield County.

“We have narrowed (the rumor starting) down to coming from the second shift,” Mrs. Key said, “the same place the last rumors came from about where the car was found.”  Bonnie Posey, Mr. Key’s daughter said that the rumors being right last time makes the family wonder, “somebody knows something,” and agreed that perhaps the rumors were the way they were leading to the discoveries. In addition to the new rumors someone has been driving by the family home last at night, sometimes pulling into the driveway with the lights off, since the rumors got out.

“We’ve had to call (the Sheriff’s Office) about it,” Mrs. Posey said.

In addition the family members went to the general location given and searched the area for several hours Saturday. “We didn’t find anything,” Mrs. Posey said, “a tee shirt, but it wasn’t his.”

A request from family members included asking area land owners to search barns, sheds, and other infrequently visited parts of their property for anything that could lead to Mr. Key’s whereabouts. An earlier request was made of deer hunters, that list of information may be found here.

The Key family said they have not been in touch with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office in the last few days but were waiting on a call from Chief Investigator Randy Doran, “I left him a message the other day and just haven’t heard back from him yet,” Mrs. Posey said. They also expressed great disappointment that North Augusta Public Safety was in charge of the investigation. The Key family said they have not been contacted by NAPS other than a few times months ago, and those encounters were confrontational, and others calls are never returned.

In contrast the family felt the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office is the only agency that was actually investigating the disappearance. “We thought when the car was found (the investigation) was in Edgefield,” Mrs. Posey said. Since the missing person’s case was first filed in North Augusta they are the leading department in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Edgefield County Sheriff's Office at 803-278-1625 or 803-637-5337. You do not have to give your name to provide information. The family has also set up an account to contact them by e-mailing mwkey2005@yahoo.com
 

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