Leesville, SC – Lexington County deputies have charged a Gilbert man with murder in the apparent beating death of his grandmother. As a part of their Investigators Thursday, detectives focused on a scene on Neely Wingard Road in the Pond Branch area of the county while building their case.
Dustin Edward Hoff, 30, will also be charged with ill treatment of an animal after deputies found a dog stabbed to death inside the victim’s home, according to arrest warrants.
The victim has been identified as Elaine Hall, 77, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher.
“Ms. Hall’s family requested a welfare check and a deputy responded to her Neely Wingard Road home to find her deceased inside,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Just a short time later, deputies spotted Hoff driving by Ms. Hall’s home in her van while they were on scene.”
Hoff was pulled over near the incident location and arrested for driving under suspension, according to Koon. Detectives interviewed him at the Sheriff’s Department before charging him with murder.
Hoff is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center. Because the charge against him is murder, any bond hearing will be held in front of a General Session Judge. It is the only charge in SC where the suspect can be completely denied bond.
