Man who reported Wagener fire accused in neighbor's death

WAGENER, SC (WIS) - Authorities say the South Carolina man who called 911 to report his neighbor's home was burning has been charged with setting the fire and beating the man inside to death.

Dashawn Sanders, 31, of Wagener, is charged with murdering 57-year-old George Griffin and setting fire to Griffin's mobile home on Saturday.

Investigators say Sanders reported the fire, saying he noticed it after seeing smoke come through the trees in front of his home.

Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said when firefighters arrived at the mobile home fire on Buckboard Road around 7:30pm, they discovered Griffin's seriously burned body.

An autopsy Saturday morning showed Griffin died before the actual fire, Carlton said. Griffin suffered a skull fracture and other injuries.

Sanders was arrested as a result of the investigating, Sgt. Dave Myers said. Neighbors say the two men had a history of fighting.

It wasn't immediately clear if Sanders had an attorney. He is being held at the Aiken County Detention Center.