COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Richland County Coroner's Office has identified a man who was found dead in a wooded area behind a Columbia restaurant.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said the man, initially believed to be in his 70s and known in the community by the nickname "Smitty," was found dead in a wooded area next to a parking lot on Averyt Avenue directly behind the Wendy's near Bush River and Broad River roads.
Later in the day, the coroner's office said they had identified the man as 74-year-old Watson Smith Strickland Jr. of Columbia.
Coroner Rutherford said the community made the identification possible by coming together and sharing what they saw.
"Looking out for your neighbor is a part of community and Columbia has shown just what community is about," she said.