In early November 2020, a concerning situation began to unfold for the family of McKenzie Corley Harley Jr., a 21-year-old Black / African American male resident of Blackville, South Carolina. He was last seen on November 5, and communication with him ceased abruptly, leading to significant alarm among his loved ones. His mother received distressing information from a relative suggesting that Harley might have been harmed in neighboring Aiken County and his body concealed.
Driven by these fears and his uncharacteristic silence—his phone reportedly went straight to voicemail during this period—his family filed a missing person report, hoping for his safe return while local authorities began their search.
The search for the young man reached a tragic conclusion one week later on November 12, 2020. At approximately 2:50 p.m., authorities discovered Harley’s body near 5540 Highway 78 in Blackville. The discovery prompted an immediate response from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Blackville Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division alongside the Barnwell County Coroner’s Office. Coroner Lloyd Ward assumed jurisdiction over the scene, and officials utilized fingerprint analysis to positively identify the remains as those of the missing 21-year-old.
Following the recovery of his body, an autopsy was conducted to determine the specific circumstances of his passing. The examination revealed that Harley had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, leading the coroner to rule the manner of death as a homicide. This determination formally shifted the case from a missing person inquiry to a criminal homicide investigation. Investigators processed the scene for evidence and began the task of piecing together Harley’s final movements between the time he was last seen and the discovery of his body.
Despite the involvement of state and local law enforcement agencies, the investigation has faced significant challenges in identifying those responsible. Publicly available reports indicate that detectives have pursued leads, yet no specific suspects have been named in connection with the shooting. As of the most recent updates on the case, there have been no arrests made, and no charges have been filed. The case remains open as authorities continue to seek information that could provide answers to the unresolved questions surrounding his death.
