South Carolina man charged with allegedly hiding dead body on side of the road

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (TCD) -- A 40-year-old man was charged nearly six months after a man’s body was discovered on the side of a rural road buried under a tarp.

Aiken County Court records show Jeremiah Head was charged with destruction or desecration of human remains, criminal conspiracy, financial identity fraud, and grand larceny at a value of $10,000 or more.

According to WRDW-TV, Tommy Hoover, 68, was reported missing on February 20. His family reportedly told investigators that after Hoover’s disappearance, his phone was cut off and his bank account was empty. He also reportedly did not show up for work.

WRDW reports Hoover allegedly told his family he was visiting a friend right before he disappeared. The friend reportedly told police he and Hoover got into an argument before Hoover left. The Augusta Chronicle, citing the Aiken County Coroner, reports Hoover’s body was discovered February 25 on the side of Katie Lane.

The Aiken Standard reports Hoover was covered with a tarp and buried near a pile of trash.

According to the Aiken Standard, Head’s arrest alleges he "desecrated the human remains of the victim, Tommy Levare Hoover, by placing his body in the trunk [of] his vehicle and dumping him in a wooded rural area covered by a tarp."

Investigators also allege Head stole Hoover’s car "after removing the victim’s deceased body."

According to WRDW, the Aiken County Coroner reportedly said Hoover’s cause of death was an accidental overdose. No one has been charged with murder in his death, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office told WRDW.

Head’s connection to Hoover was not immediately specified.

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