FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The Florence County Coroner’s Office and Florence Police Department are investigating the discovery of skeletal remains of a missing 16-year-old girl.
According to a press release from Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken, the remains were found by city officials inspecting a vacant house at 509 North Wilson Street on November 18.
The remains were taken to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where they were examined by Forensic Anthropologist and Odontologists. A positive identification has been made through dental records on file with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Through this process the remains were identified as Lakendra S. Powers.
Powers was 16 years old at the time she went missing in April 2008 in the City of Florence.
The length of time since death cannot be determined. A manner and cause of death are still under investigation.
The Coroner’s Office and Police Department are asking for the community’s assistance with providing information that may be helpful to the investigation.
