Man dies of heart attack while burying woman he strangled, officials say Joseph McKinnon, Patricia Dent found dead in backyard of South Carolina home
Police lights. (KPRC/File)
TRENTON, S.C. – A man died of a heart attack in South Carolina while he was burying a woman he strangled, according to the sheriff’s officials.
WJBF-TV in South Carolina reported deputies with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office found the body of Joseph Anthony McKinnon, 60, Saturday in the backyard of a home in Trenton. While there, deputies found another body, identified as Patricia Ruth Dent, 65, in a “freshly dug pit.”
[TRENDING: Lyman High School students claim victory in battle over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ yearbook photos | Report: Passenger lands plane at Florida airport after pilot becomes ‘incoherent’ | Become a News 6 Insider ]
Officials said McKinnon strangled Dent and wrapped her in trash bags before he put her body in a pit he dug, WJBF reported.
Investigators said McKinnon had a heart attack while burying her.
WJBF reported the two lived at the home together.
Click here to read their report.
Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
About the Author Brenda Argueta headshot
Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.
13-year-old girl killed in Christmas day shooting ▶ 0:47
13-year-old girl killed in Christmas day shooting
Volusia Sheriff's Office rescues boy from pond ▶ 0:51
Volusia Sheriff's Office rescues boy from pond
Police and fishermen help rescue stranded French bulldog ▶ 0:47
Police and fishermen help rescue stranded French bulldog
Cocoa Beach police to Surfing Santas attendees: Park where you should, for goodness sake ▶ 0:53
Cocoa Beach police to Surfing Santas attendees: Park where you should, for goodness sake
Volusia Sheriff: Drunk man broke into home while girl was alone ▶ 1:19
Volusia Sheriff: Drunk man broke into home while girl was alone
Judge sets bond for woman accused of pushing child under water at Gaylord Palms ▶ 0:44
Judge sets bond for woman accused of pushing child under water at Gaylord Palms
Lake County 4-H ‘Goat Busters’ track down escaped goat in woods ▶ 0:46
Lake County 4-H ‘Goat Busters’ track down escaped goat in woods
Artifacts removed from Pulse site for preservation as building nears demolition date ▶ 0:58
Artifacts removed from Pulse site for preservation as building nears demolition date
‘Faith, hope, pixie dust:’ Central Floridians test luck in $1.6B Powerball race ▶ 1:14
‘Faith, hope, pixie dust:’ Central Floridians test luck in $1.6B Powerball race
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown? ▶ 0:28
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown?
Persistent internet sales pitches cause frustration among St. Cloud homeowners ▶ 0:49
Persistent internet sales pitches cause frustration among St. Cloud homeowners
Volusia sheriff confronts suspect accused of defrauding over 100 students of overseas trip ▶ 0:34
Volusia sheriff confronts suspect accused of defrauding over 100 students of overseas trip
✨What is the Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? ▶ 1:21
✨What is the Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Florida families allege Hurricane Roofer cashes checks but failed to deliver roof replacements ▶ 0:37
Florida families allege Hurricane Roofer cashes checks but failed to deliver roof replacements
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown? ▶ 0:28
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown?
Surfing Santa at Cocoa Beach ▶ 1:37
Surfing Santa at Cocoa Beach
Drone deliveries coming to Central Florida ▶ 0:27
Drone deliveries coming to Central Florida
Looking for festive fun this season? Here are 6 things to do this weekend! ▶ 0:48
Looking for festive fun this season? Here are 6 things to do this weekend!
Florida license plate frame law’s confusion forces state to clarify the rules ▶ 0:45
Florida license plate frame law’s confusion forces state to clarify the rules
Man accused of dumping missing Brevard County woman’s body after sex, fatal overdose in 2023 ▶ 0:55
Man accused of dumping missing Brevard County woman’s body after sex, fatal overdose in 2023
Ocoee woman accused of sending sexual videos of 13-year-old to prison inmate ▶ 1:04
Ocoee woman accused of sending sexual videos of 13-year-old to prison inmate
‘Breath of fresh air:’ Neighbors relieved as Brevard County condemns home of woman who dumped feces in yards ▶ 0:50
‘Breath of fresh air:’ Neighbors relieved as Brevard County condemns home of woman who dumped feces in yards
Central Florida congestion woes increase as construction goes on ▶ 1:03
Central Florida congestion woes increase as construction goes on
Prosecutor pinned for ‘oversight’ after man accused in Orlando jogging attack takes plea deal ▶ 0:55
Prosecutor pinned for ‘oversight’ after man accused in Orlando jogging attack takes plea deal
Florida’s bear hunt is underway, but FWC is not actively saying how many have been killed ▶ 0:52
Florida’s bear hunt is underway, but FWC is not actively saying how many have been killed
Previous photo Next photo 