By Sally Mahan
Chaz Blanding’s body was found on Dec. 2 on St. Helena Island. His uncle, Robert Blanding, was found on Nov. 22 on Lady’s Island.
Three teenagers from Northern Beaufort County have been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of a nephew and his uncle.
The body of Robert Blanding, 25, of St. Helena Island, was found on the side of F & B Road on Lady’s Island on the afternoon of Nov. 22.
The body of Chaz Blanding, 19, of Beaufort, was found on Dec. 2 in a wooded area off of Simmons Road on St. Helena Island.
Chaz Blanding was reported missing and endangered by his family after last being seen on Nov. 21 when he and his uncle were seen leaving Chaz Blanding’s Beaufort residence.
A forensic autopsy performed recently at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston revealed that Chaz Blanding died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
A motive for the murders has not been released by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office because the case is still under investigation, according to Capt. Bob Bromage of the sheriff’s office.
Raheem Bennett, 16, has been arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime.
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators located and arrested Bennett outside of a convenience store on Lady’s Island without incident.
Channon Preston Jr., 18, of Lady’s Island, was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on charges of accessory after the fact of murder after the investigation revealed that Preston Jr. allegedly had knowledge of and took action to conceal Robert Blanding’s murder, according to the sheriff’s office.
Nashon Pringle, 18, of St. Helena Island, turned himself in to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the murders is encouraged to contact Sgt. Brandon Disbrow at 843-255-3407.
To remain anonymous and collect a possible reward, call CrimeStoppers at 888-CrimeSC.
Channon Preston Jr., Nashon Pringle and Raheem Bennett (not pictured) have been arrested in relation to the deaths of Chaz Blanding and Robert Blanding.
