In the quiet town of Union, South Carolina, a grim discovery was made on the morning of Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Charles Nathan Crosby, a 67-year-old man, was found deceased in the yard of his home on South Mountain Street. The initial investigation by the Union County Coroner's Office quickly determined that Crosby's death was not of natural causes, and it was officially ruled a homicide.
This unsettling event marked the beginning of an intensive investigation to bring justice for a life unexpectedly cut short.
The community was shaken by the news of the violent death of one of their own. As law enforcement officials, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, delved into the case, a second homicide that occurred on the same day came to their attention. Kieran Patel, a 49-year-old, had been killed at a gas station on South Pinckney Street, not far from where Crosby's body was discovered. Investigators found a chilling connection between the two murders: 9-millimeter shell casings recovered from both scenes were a match. This crucial piece of evidence suggested a single perpetrator was responsible for the two brutal killings. While the motive in Patel's death was believed to be robbery, the reason behind Crosby's murder remained a somber mystery.
A significant breakthrough in the case came on a Friday afternoon, following a lengthy standoff at a residence on South Church Street, mere blocks from both crime scenes. Law enforcement arrested 21-year-old Zaden Hill in connection with the two slayings. Hill was subsequently charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Charles Crosby and Kieran Patel. As the legal proceedings against Hill began, the 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office announced they were considering pursuing the death penalty, a decision that would unfold as the case progressed through the justice system. The community, while still mourning the loss of two of its members, could find some solace in the swift arrest of a suspect.
