Columbia Police Department (CPD) Investigators have arrested a male suspect accused of killing a man who was initially reported missing last week.
According to Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook, 25-year-old Marc-Anthony Rickson Cantrell was charged with Murder yesterday and is housed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASGDC). A booking photograph is not available at this time.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 35-year-old Deshea Butler. CPD Investigators found Butler’s body at the 2200 block of Harper Street on July 6, 2023. Butler was reported missing from a halfway house at 2214 Harper Street on July 4, 2023.
A motive for the death remains under investigation.
Another Harper Street Missing Persons Case:
On March 27, 2023, CPD investigators began searching for another man who was reported missing from the same location as Butler. CPD issued public information about the case.
Case Recap:
On March 23, 2023, the family of 22-year-old Jared Ondrea reported him missing from a halfway house at 2214 Harper Street.
Since the case was assigned to investigators, they have searched locations that Ondrea likes to frequent, used investigative techniques to pinpoint his whereabouts, and communicated with Ondrea’s family. Ondrea’s whereabouts remain unknown to date. CPD investigators are working to determine if there may be any connection between the two cases.
The Special Victims Unit (SVU) and the Violent Crimes Against Persons Unit (VCAP) are investigating the cases.
Chief Holbrook encourages citizens with information about Ondrea’s whereabouts to contact CRIMESTOPPERS in any of the following ways:
CALL toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC.
LOG onto: www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab.
DOWNLOAD the new P3 Tips App for Apple or Android devices.