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Two men from Saluda County have been arrested in connection with a 2018 murder. 

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents arrested Earl Eugene Valentine Jr., 24, on Feb. 7 and charged him with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Agents arrested Derrick Cyrus Jr., 30, on April 8 and charged him with accessory after the fact to murder.

Special Agent William Padgett alleged in an affidavit that Valentine shot and killed James Patrick Kinard, 39, on Oct. 19, 2018 in the Hazard Circle area of Ridge Spring. 

The Ridge Spring Police Department requested SLED's assistance with the investigation, SLED Director of Public Information Renée Wunderlich said in an April 11 news release. 

Ridge Spring is located in Saluda County about a mile north of its border with Aiken County. 

An independent witness identified Valentine via a photo lineup as someone who was in proximity to Kinard shortly before the shooting, Padgett said in the affidavit. 

Padgett added another person — this person's information is blacked out of the affidavit — said Valentine admitted killing Kinard. The person added that Valentine said he believed Kinard to be working with police, Padgett said. 

Valentine told a third person that he killed Kinard, Padgett said. 

Murder is a felony punishable by death or 30 years to life in prison. 

Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime is also a felony. If convicted, a person faces an additional five years in prison unless the person is sentenced to death or life in prison. 

A Saluda County magistrate denied Valentine bond according to Saluda County General Sessions court records. 

Cyrus provided aid, shelter or assistance to Valentine after the shooting, Padgett said in another affidavit.

SLED agents also located a spent shell cartridge matching the caliber of weapon that killed Kinard in a trash can outside of Cyrus's residence, Padgett said. 

Accessory after the fact to murder is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. 

A Saluda County magistrate set Cyrus's bond at $200,000 cash according to Saluda County General Sessions court records. 

Both cases will be prosecuted by 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard's office. 


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