LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — Lexington County authorities said Thursday afternoon that they are in the early stages of a death investigation after someone found a body and called 911.
According to a spokesperson for the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the body was found on Roundtree Court near Gaston after a caller reported seeing it in the woods nearby.
Nicky Babb, a neighbor in the area, said he saw something awful - a body.
"It put me in shock," Babb said.
Babb said that he showed law enforcement where the body was on Thursday afternoon when they arrived on the scene. He said that he was out in the woods searching for dirt.
"I love plants and doing gardening," Babb said. "I was just trying to get extra dirt, so I went under an oak tree out in the woods, but no pine tree. I had to go almost all the way to Mimosa Road, the next block over."
Renee Darling, a neighbor about a half mile down the street, drove over to see what was going on.
"Popped up on my phone. A body was found. I know a lot of people around here and friends of mine, so I just wanted to see what was going on, who it was, that kind of thing cause you just never know," Darling said.
Another neighbor, Tammy Whinery, said deputies were searching in the woods right next to where her family lives.
"I just heard this afternoon that there was a body found over close to where my daughter lives," Whinery said. "I mean it's scary, it's scary because I've got grandkids that live right over in that house. And they already don't go outside and play."
Neighbors explaining it's a very unsettling feeling this Thursday night.
Investigators and the Lexington County Coroner's Office were also on the scene, collecting potential evidence and processing the immediate area near the body.
The Lexington County Coroner said it will likely not release further information until at least Friday. Officials said they hope to learn more in the coming days.