On May 10, 2021, Heyward Delno 'Trey' Price III, a 32-year-old male, was found deceased at his residence on Shade Tree Circle in Easley, South Carolina. His father discovered him lying by the front door after being unable to reach him by phone. Initially, the cause of death was not immediately apparent, but investigators later determined he had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The case was subsequently investigated as a homicide by the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.
For two years, the investigation into Price's death posed a significant challenge to law enforcement. Investigators had collected a blood sample from an unknown individual at the scene, but the DNA profile did not match anyone in existing databases. A photograph of an unusual burnt orange minivan seen near Price's home on the day of his death was also circulated, but leads were scarce. The case remained a frustrating mystery for Price's family and the community, who remembered him as a man with a big heart who enjoyed fishing.
A breakthrough in the cold case came through the use of genealogical DNA testing. The foreign DNA profile from the scene was submitted for analysis, which generated a small pool of potential suspects. This new lead allowed investigators to focus their efforts and eventually secure a DNA sample from 24-year-old Jay'Kwon Tajeek Walker of Clinton. In July 2023, authorities announced that Walker's DNA matched the sample from the crime scene, and he was arrested and charged with murder, burglary, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Investigators believe the motive for the crime was burglary and have stated there is no evidence to suggest Price and Walker knew each other, though they may have had mutual acquaintances.
The investigation continued after Walker's arrest, as authorities believed others were involved. In June 2025, two more arrests were made in connection with Price's murder. Shyheen Jaquan Taylor of Clinton and Roydarius Devontae Simpson of Laurens were both charged with murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Taylor was awaiting extradition from Laurens, while Simpson surrendered to authorities and was being held at the Pickens County Detention Center without bond.
