South Carolina Woman Charged With Murder Of 'On-And-Off' Boyfriend
A South Carolina woman was charged with the murder of her one-time boyfriend whose body was found in a shallow grave several months ago.
Jessica Marie Strachan, 28 — who has been under investigation for months related to her involvement in the disappearance and death of her ex-boyfriend Devantae Alzondrae Griffin — has now officially been charged with his murder, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office announced on July 15.
Strachan, who is currently in jail on obstruction charges related to Griffin’s disappearance, was additionally charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Griffin’s family reported him missing on March 30. He’d been last seen leaving a home in Spartanburg with Strachan — with whom authorities said he had an “on-and-off” relationship — shortly after midnight.
Under questioning the following day, Strachan “claimed no knowledge” of Griffin’s whereabouts and provided misleading information to detectives, officials said. When investigators contacted Strachan for a second interview shortly thereafter, she'd already allegedly fled to Florida without notifying law enforcement.
Jessica Strachan and Tarus Crook Photo: Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office
Authorities then executed a search warrant at Strachan’s home, according to NBC affiliate WYFF, and allegedly found Griffin’s blood “throughout” residence, according to CBS affiliate WSPA.
She was arrested on April 1 in Miami and charged with obstruction of justice, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Oxygen.com, for allegedly taking Griffin’s cell phone with her to Florida.
Strachan was extradited to Spartanburg, posted bond and was released from jail on April 15. She was re-arrested on April 25 for violating the conditions of her home detention and has remained in jail ever since.
On April 26, Griffin’s body was recovered from a shallow grave in a wooded area near the Evan Acres neighborhood of Spartanburg. His death was subsequently ruled a homicide.
Officials said the case is open and active. A second person of interest has been named in the case, but hasn’t been charged.
Griffin’s family attended Strachan’s bond hearing on Saturday.
“To know that I’ll never see him again really hurts,” Griffin’s mother, Felicia Griffin, told WSPA-TV. “He didn’t deserve to be thrown away like trash.”
Griffin’s family said he’ll be remembered as a “good person.”
“We’ve been praying for this moment for a few months now,” Griffin’s aunt, Beverly Griffin, also told the outlet. “We just need some closure about what happened to him and why.”
It’s unclear if Strachan has retained legal representation. A circuit judge is expected to issue a decision on her bond at a future date. If convicted, Strachan faces life in prison.
