In the quiet community of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a grim discovery brought a tragic end to the life of 60-year-old Frederick Boyd Vansant, Jr. On the evening of May 16, 2025, police responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at Vansant's Dinger Court home. What they found upon arrival was a scene that would unravel a story of domestic violence.
When officers knocked on the door, it was answered by Vansant’s ex-wife, 53-year-old Joyanna Vansant.
She was covered in blood and, in a state of agitation, indicated that the victim was in the back of the house. Police noted that she had apparently changed her clothes because they were soaked in blood. Inside the home, a gruesome trail of blood led them to the back porch, where they found Frederick Vansant's body locked inside a closet. He had been fatally shot in the head.
Joyanna Vansant was immediately taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The couple had divorced in 2021, and she no longer resided at the Dinger Court address. Investigators have not yet released a motive for the killing.
Following her arrest, Joyanna Vansant was held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. A judge denied her bond, considering her a potential danger to the community. Friends and neighbors of Frederick Vansant remembered him as a friendly and helpful man who enjoyed golfing. His death has left those who knew him in shock and mourning.
