Boyfriend arrested in missing Aiken County mom case

WAGENER, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - An arrest warrant was issued for the boyfriend of an Aiken County mother of four who’s been missing for weeks.

Wednesday night, Captain Eric Abdullah with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said Tony Berry was arrested by the West Columbia Police Department. He will be held pending his transfer to the Aiken County Detention Center.

Krystal C. Anderson was last seen outside her home on Aug. 20 and was reported missing by her family on Aug. 23.

EARLIER COVERAGE:

• Family desperate for information as search continues
• Family fears for Aiken County mom who’s been missing
• Family frustrated by lack of answers on missing mom

Since the start of the investigation by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, deputies believed she had been in the company of her boyfriend, Berry, 49, at her home on Seivern Road in Wagener.

Results of the investigation led investigators to obtain an arrest warrant for Berry, who was wanted on a charge of kidnapping, deputies said Wednesday.

We talked to the sheriff’s office Wednesday afternoon.

“When this all started, he was listed as a missing person as well. When he came in, he let it known that he wasn’t missing. He sat down with investigators during that time, so obviously, you know, we followed every lead. Clues have come together, all the facts have come together and linked to where we were able to show that we had sufficient probable cause to have an arrest warrant issued,” said Abdullah.

Desperate for answers, the family hired a private investigator. When the family sat down with us five weeks ago, during our interview the private investigator received a call about a burned car.

The private investigator said it could be related to Anderson. At the time, Aiken County could not confirm or deny that.

Anderson is about 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 106 pounds, and has black hair and hazel eyes.

Authorities released photos of both.

Deputies ask that anyone with information on the whereabouts of Anderson contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at 803-648-6811.

You can provide information anonymously through Midlands Crime Stoppers.

Your tip could earn you a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for any crime. The family is offering a reward, as well.

Anderson’s family says they knew early on that something was wrong. They say she wouldn’t disappear without her kids.

“She’s a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend,” her sister Shadira Smothers told News 12 a few weeks ago. “She has four children that she needs to come back to.”

The family says they won’t stop looking until they find answers.

“We are not going to ever stop looking for you until we bring you home,” Smothers said.

Copyright 2022 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.