Woman missing for 4 days found dead in mall bathroom

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Lexington County Coroner has confirmed the determine of the woman found dead in the restroom of a Belk retailer on the Columbiana Center Mall.  

According to Coroner Margaret Fisher, Bessie Durham, 63, of Columbia was found deceased shortly after 8 p.m. Monday by a retailer worker in a public bathroom situated contained in the Belk situated off Harbison Boulevard. 

Belk confirmed in an announcement that this was a household restroom, and Durham did housekeeping for the shop by way of an out of doors contractor firm. 

“First and foremost, we send our deepest condolences to the family of Bessie Durham,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “We are actively working to piece together what happened. Meanwhile, we have also made counselors available to associates seeking support.”

The coroner’s workplace says Durham was final seen alive on retailer surveillance cameras getting into the bathroom space on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at roughly 7:00 a.m. and was not seen exiting that space once more. That was 4 and a half days earlier than she was later found. 

An post-mortem for Durham is scheduled for September 22, 2022 at MUSC in Charleston. At this time, foul play will not be suspected.

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office will proceed to research this incident

On Monday at 8:45 p.m. Columbia Police say they responded to a missing individual’s report in a neighborhood off Monticello Road the place household there reported a feminine missing. The girl hadn’t been heard from since Thursday, September 15.

This was across the time Durham was found dead by retailer staff. 

Officers responding to the Belk location found out by way of their investigation that it was one in the identical case — the girl found dead was the girl reported missing. 

CPD is continuous its investigation and has interviewed and brought statements from staff at Belk. The household of the girl has been working with regulation enforcement.

Investigators are taking a look at open and shutting procedures on the mall.