Hampton County Sheriff’s Office solve 2019 Varnville murder, two people in custody

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people in connection with a homicide that occurred in 2019 in Varnville.

Ronald Lee Lyons, Jr., 41, of Lake City, SC, and Courtney Melinda Lane, 30, of Yemassee, SC, have both been charged with murder in connection with the death of Jimmy Smoak.

Arrest warrants show that investigators determined that near or on April 1, 2019, the defendants acted unlawfully and with malice aforethought in causing the death of Smoak.

When a major lead came through in this case, Lyons was already serving a 15-year sentence with the South Carolina Department of Corrections on drug-related offenses connected to Hampton County.

Lane is still in the custody of SCDC where she remains pending judicial proceedings.

“Cold case investigations are among the most complex and demanding cases we face,” said Hampton County Sheriff Anthony Russell. “They require extraordinary patience, diligence, and determination. Our investigators and support staff devoted countless hours reviewing evidence, re-examining reports, submitting new DNA, ad exploring every possible lead. Their persistence is what ultimately brought this case to a close."

The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office extended thanks to the following agencies for their assistance was vital to this investigation:

• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
• SLED Lowcountry Regional Investigative Unit (SLED
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office
• Florence County Sheriff’s Office
• South Carolina Department of Corrections
• South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association
• Hampton County Coroner’s Office – Anna Fields and Staff
• Colleton-County Sheriffs-Office