In the quiet, rural landscape of Modoc, South Carolina, a grim discovery was made on Sunday, October 24, 2021. The body of 32-year-old Brandi Bearden, a woman from nearby Trenton, was found on the shoulder of Red Oak Grove Road, near Highway 23. Two men, driving separately along the highway that afternoon, each noticed what appeared to be a person lying motionless and alerted the authorities.
When police arrived, they confirmed the woman was deceased and quickly identified her as Brandi Bearden. Investigators noted wounds on her leg and face, leading them to declare her death a homicide by that evening.
The investigation into Brandi’s death moved swiftly. Authorities were able to identify a suspect, 30-year-old Austin Hunter Randolph, who was apprehended in the Clearwater area of Aiken County. It was discovered that Randolph and Bearden resided at the same address on Running Ridge Drive in Trenton, though the nature of their relationship was not immediately made public. Randolph was subsequently charged with murder. During the arrest, a rifle was found in his vehicle, which was believed to be connected to the crime. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the precise cause of Bearden's death.
The news of Brandi’s violent death sent shockwaves through the community, where she was remembered as a kind and loving person with a big heart who was always laughing. Friends and family expressed their profound grief and disbelief at the senseless act that took her life. A GoFundMe was established to assist her family with funeral expenses. Brandi’s death marked the first homicide of the year in Edgefield County, leaving a community to mourn her loss and await the progression of the legal proceedings against the man charged with her murder.
