A body found by a local kayaker was ruled to have been killed by homicide.

The Lexington County Coroner's Office announced that Regina Veronica Arroyo, 56 of Barnwell, was identified as the body found in the North Fork Edisto River, near Wagner Highway, at about 4 p.m. on Dec. 3. Arroyo was reported missing Nov. 30.

The river crosses Wagener Highway about five minutes north of that Aiken County town and about eight miles southwest of Pelion. Barnwell is roughly 35 miles from that location.

“An autopsy was performed at MUSC in Charleston on December 5, 2023 and the results are not being released until further investigation into the death by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department,” the coroner’s office posted to Facebook. 

“The Lexington County Coroner’s Office as well as the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate and further information will be released as the investigation continues.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.