The suspect in the investigation of a South Carolina house fire where six people were found dead has been charged with the murder of his 11-year-old daughter, the prosecutor’s office announced Monday.
Ryan Lenard Manigo, 33, is charged with two counts of murder and one additional count of attempted murder against the sole survivor of the fire, 14th Circuit attorney Duffie Stone, 13, announced at a news conference. on Monday. Stone identified the 11-year-old girl as Shariah Manigo and the second murder victim as Manigo’s sister-in-law, 50-year-old Michelle Marie Wright.
“As both murder counts carry potential life sentences, they must be established by a circuit court judge,” Stone said. “My office will organize and schedule them through our chief administrative judge within the next few days and we will notify to the public of that hearing”.
The other four victims who died in the fire are pending identification by autopsy, authorities said. Manigo may face additional charges depending on the autopsy results, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office previously said.
Sheriff Guerry “Buddy” Hill said his deputies were called to the house fire Sunday morning in Green Pond and arrived at a residence completely engulfed in flames.
The boy who survived the fire was found outside the home with cuts and stab wounds, Hill told reporters Monday. The boy, who was not identified, was able to name the suspect and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
Family members were able to help provide the suspect’s full name and Manigo was arrested near the residence, the sheriff said.
“The collected evidence was sent to the State Law Enforcement Division for analysis,” Hill said. “At this time, we do not have a motive. This is a very active investigation and as details emerge, we will forward them to the family and the media.”
Neither Hill nor Stone responded to reporters’ questions Monday, citing the ongoing investigation.
David Magwood said WCBD, NBC affiliate that several of his relatives were in the house and that his 101-year-old mother was one of the victims of the fire.
Magwood did not immediately return a phone call from NBC News on Monday.
Family members were allowed to speak at Manigo’s hearing on Monday, according to WCBD, including one who told Manigo he “will never be forgiven.”
“You took our matriarch from our family,” the family member said. “Someone who took you in and fed you like their own. I just want you to get the worst charges ever. I really want you dead. I want you to get the death penalty.”
Manigo does not have a lawyer listed for him in court records and he remained in custody until Monday afternoon.
