By Mike McCombs
The Island News
A stabbing Monday afternoon, July 29, at the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon left has reportedly left the leader of the village dead.
At about 2:45 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Communications Center received a report of a stabbing at the Oyotunji African Village located on Bryant Lane in Sheldon.
According to the BCSO, deputies responded and found a 47-year-old male victim who was transported by Beaufort County EMS to an area hospital. The victim later died as a result of his injuries.
Though the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office had not yet released the identity of the deceased on Tuesday afternoon, a source told The Island News the victim was Oba Adefunmi II, the leader of the Oyotunji African Village.
The BCSO quickly identified a suspect — 53-year-old Akiba Kasale Meredith – and learned she had left the area on foot.
Additional deputies, investigators, a Patrol K9 team and the BCSO Aviation Unit were called to assist in locating Meredith. Within a short period of time, Meredith was located walking back to the scene of the incident and was taken into custody.
Meredith was arrested for murder and is currently in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
The circumstances that led to this incident remain under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the investigator, Sgt. Kline at 843-255-3430. Information can also be submitted online at BCSO.NET.
The Oyotunji African Village, founded in 1970, is a community based on the culture of the Yoruba and Dahomey tribes of West Africa. The population of the village at its height was around 250. It is estimated that nine families currently reside in the village.
