Questions mount after woman beaten unconscious

WARRENVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A report from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office is shedding new light on a New Year’s mystery at Langley Pond.

A woman appeared to have been assaulted before she was found unconscious next to a vehicle at Langley Pond Park, according to newly released information from deputies.

The victim, a Graniteville woman in her 60s, was found around 8 a.m. Sunday near the Langley Pond boat ramp, according to an incident report released Tuesday by Aiken County deputies.

Deputies arrived as she was being loaded onto an ambulance after being found by a passerby.

Officers were able to see that her face was “badly bruised and swollen.” Her eyes were swollen shut, and there was “bruising across her face consistent with being assaulted,” a deputy wrote in the report.

The deputy tried to speak with the victim, but she was unresponsive.

Captain Eric Abdullah with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office says there are no new leads in the case, but they are actively investigating how this could have happened.

“She had substantial injuries to her person, and she was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. She is currently critical but stable,” he said.

Abdullah says this is extremely rare for the park that is well-loved by the community.

“This is an isolated incident that we’re investigating. There is no other incident similar to this,” he said.

Things at the park seem back to normal but people at the park are saying they are a little concerned for their safety.

Abdullah says he doesn’t want people to worry.

“If people are concerned. You know, make sure you try to look out for one another when you’re out there. I mean, if you see something, say something as simple as that,” said Abdullah.

We reached out to Aiken County Parks and Recreation to find out if they will be installing cameras here at the park, but we haven’t heard back yet. Abdullah says to reach out to the sheriff’s office if you have any information.

The man who found her, listed as a Warrenville resident, told officers he was driving to the American Legion building and found the victim on the ground.

She was taken to a hospital and remained in critical condition Tuesday morning, according to deputies.

The park only reopened a little less than a year ago after being closed for eight years so the dam could be repaired.

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