DILLON COUNTY — The Dillon County community is reeling after 50-year-old Richard Thomas “Rock” Sweat was found dead Friday, ending a nearly two-week search that began when he disappeared in late January.
Sweat, a lifelong resident of the Oak Grove area, was last heard from around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. Loved ones said he was expected home but never showed, and his family’s call to local authorities launched a search involving law enforcement and volunteers.
Early on Monday, deputies located Sweat’s vehicle parked on Famie Field Road, a rural stretch near where he was last seen, but there was still no sign of him. His mother, Jeannie Sweat, spoke publicly about her fears, saying her son would never go long without checking in with family.
Search crews from the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, emergency services, and state agencies worked long hours combing wooded areas off Famie Field Road and nearby Wildlife Road. At times the mood was tense and quiet, with neighbors and volunteers hoping for a safe return.
The somber outcome came on Friday morning, when deputies and investigators located Sweat’s body in Dillon County. Coroner Donnie Grimsley confirmed the discovery and said the remains would be transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for an autopsy to determine cause of death.
Family members and friends are mourning while they wait for more answers. In the days after his disappearance, neighbors shared stories of Sweat’s warmth and presence in the community, painting the picture of a man everyone assumed would return home.
Sheriff Jamie Hamilton thanked all who took part in the search — from law enforcement to volunteers — for their tireless efforts. He noted the tragedy has touched many in Dillon County, where people look out for one another.
Those who knew Richard “Rock” Sweat speak of him as a fixture in the Oak Grove area, someone whose absence was deeply felt almost immediately. The community now plans to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers as they face the coming days.
