Man charged after body found in burned vehicle

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A man is facing charges days after a body was found inside a burned vehicle in Ladson.

Brandon Steplight, 19, was arrested Friday on a charge of arson in the first degree and destruction or removal of human remains.

Deputies with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a call regarding a vehicle fire on Koester Road on April 13. A body was found inside the vehicle after fire personnel extinguished the flames.

That person was later identified by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office as 20-year-old Omarion Brown, and deemed his death a homicide.

According to an affidavit released Monday, the Honda Civic was “burned beyond recognition” and noted that the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames during the incident.

Forensic evidence found higher oxidation and other signs that the fire likely started in the passenger compartment, and “favored the passenger side where the victim’s body was located.”

An autopsy found two bullets still in Brown’s chest area and no smoke damage in the lungs, indicating that Brown was dead before he was set on fire.

According to the affidavits, Steplight was seen on video evidence purchasing $5.00 in gas that afternoon, before following the Honda to the scene in a Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Honda being set on fire. The trailblazer was seen leaving minutes before smoke was visible on a residential camera.

“This evidence shows Steplight participated in the murder, and its attempted coverup, as the victim was shot twice, his vehicle set on fire and left to burn,” documents say.

Steplight denied involvement during an April 17 interview and claimed he was with family members on the day.

He was arrested at the time of his interview for a marijuana offense. During a search, investigators found a live 9mm round in his pocket and a latex glove. Video evidence showed Steplight wearing the same pants at the time of the murder and during the interview, the affidavit said.