Walterboro, South Carolina — The tight-knit community in this small Lowcountry town is reeling after the heartbreaking discovery of 44-year-old Tacia Renee Ferguson, whose disappearance on January 19 set off a frantic search that ended in tragedy. What began as fear for her safety turned into profound loss for her family and loved ones.
Family members reported Ferguson missing early that Monday morning after they were unable to reach her for hours. She was last seen at about 4 a.m. near the Colleton County jail on Klein Street, authorities said. Deputies from the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office were called in as relatives grew increasingly alarmed, especially as the overnight temperatures dipped to dangerously cold levels.
Loved ones joined the search throughout the day. Their worst fears were realized in the late afternoon, when family members helping in the effort located Ferguson’s body around 4:40 p.m. in a wooded area close to her home, near Kiser Street and Hendersonville Highway. The discovery brought a painful end to hours of uncertainty.
Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of her death. The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Colleton County Coroner’s Office, has not yet released details about what happened. An autopsy has been requested and is pending, as authorities work to determine the cause and manner of her passing.
Those who knew Ferguson describe her as a daughter and friend whose presence meant so much to others. In a town where everyone seems to know someone touched by loss, her death has sent waves of sorrow through families and neighbors who remember her warmth and spirit. Friends say the void left by her sudden passing is hard to put into words.
People in Walterboro have been offering support, prayers, and sympathy to her family in the wake of the tragedy. Community members have gathered, shared memories, and spoken of holding each other up during this painful time, seeking comfort in shared grief.
For now, investigators urge anyone with information to come forward as they continue piecing together the final hours of Tacia Renee Ferguson’s life. Meanwhile, those who loved her are left with memories and the deep ache that comes with losing someone too soon.
