Two people have been caught in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old from South Carolina, who disappeared last week while on a date with someone the teen had met online.
Jacob Williamson, previously known as Kierstyn, a trans teenager from South Carolina, went missing last week after setting off for an in-person meeting with an individual he had been communicating with on the internet.
Union County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina received a report of Williamson’s disappearance on the morning of Sunday, July 2, from his worried family. He had last been in contact on Friday evening, June 30, and there had been no signs of him since then. Acting on a lead, the authorities initiated a search, which led them to a residence in Monroe, North Carolina.
According to the sheriff’s office, Williamson had been interacting online with a man, Joshua Newton, for around a month before the two decided to meet for a date. Newton allegedly visited Williamson at his workplace in Laurens, South Carolina, and drove him back to his home in Monroe, a journey spanning over two hours.
On July 5, Wednesday, authorities found a body a few miles from Newton’s house, which is believed to be Williamson’s. Following this, Joshua Newton, 25, and his girlfriend, Victoria Smith, 22, who lived with him, were arrested. Newton is suspected to have killed Williamson, and Smith is believed to have aided in hiding the body. Newton faces charges of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, while Smith is charged with being an accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice.
It has been shared by a family friend that Williamson, originally named Kierstyn at birth, had started his transition to a man and adopted the first name Jacob. The inquiry into the murder is still underway.