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

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