Police seek to identify burned body

The Aiken County Coroner's Office and the Aiken County Sheriff's Office are asking for public assistance in identifying a woman whose burned body was discovered in a field on Storm Branch Road two weeks ago.

The woman died on Aug. 11, but investigators still have been unable to link her to a missing persons case and have not heard from the woman's next of kin.

A sketch, released Tuesday, is designed to help people identify someone who resembles an artist's rendering and contact investigators.

The victim is described as a white female, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 140 pounds with hazel eyes, reddish blonde hair, and she had red toe nail polish.

Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said the woman had a fair complexion and had a "very pronounced jaw."

Post-mortem swelling has disfigured the woman's face slightly, but she had full lips, he said.

The woman also had dental work done and had well-groomed eyebrows.

Calrton said she took care of herself.

She had a medium athletic build, he said.

There were no signs of a tattoo, but the body had been burned badly in some places, he added.

Investigators have been working to track down leads that may help them identify the woman and also her killer, said Aiken County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Troy Elwell.

The case is being investigated as a double homicide.

Authorities said two women's bodies were found at separate fires on Aug. 11. Both died from asphyxiation.

The first body, that of 75-year-old Yana P. Schenker, was found between 8:30 and 9 p.m. at a home on Paddocks Bend when a fire at the large two-story home was reported by an alarm company.

Her body had also been burned.

The killings are believed to be connected, and the bodies were burned in an attempt to destroy evidence, Elwell said.

When Aiken firefighters entered Schenker's home, they found light smoke and smelled gasoline. Crews extinguished the blaze and found the body lying on the floor of the "bonus" room above the garage. The fire was set in the same room the body was found, Elwell said.

About an hour after Schenker's body was found, a second fire was reported. A property owner in Clearwater called the sheriff's office to say that his undeveloped land near the intersection of Old Storm Branch Road and Storm Branch Road was burning.

Investigators have not said what type of accelerant was used to set the unidentified woman's body on fire.

Anyone information is asked to call the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (800) 922-9709 or the Aiken County Coroner's Office at 642-1741.

Individuals also should call CrimeStoppers of the Midlands at (888) CRIME-SC.

Callers can remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of between $50 and $1,000. Tipsters can also visit www.midlandscrimestoppers.com or text "TIPSC" plus the message to CRIMES (274637).

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.