Adriana Laster, 27: Remains Of Woman Missing Since 2011 Identified In 2024
She disappeared in 2011 while hiding from her boyfriend, and later, construction workers came across bones in a sand pit.
After over a decade of the unknown, Adriana Laster's loved ones finally have some sense of closure. Adriana was last seen in Elgin, South Carolina, on September 3, 2011. The 27-year-old mother of a daughter was said to be on her way to church at the time. She stayed with a woman temporarily, as Adriana was hiding from her boyfriend, Freddie Grant. The Charley Report states the woman advised Adriana not to leave the house the day she disappeared out of fear that Grant would find her. Adriana Laster was never seen alive again.
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Freddie Grant Admits To Murder—But Not Adriana's
Following a lengthy investigation, Grant confessed to murder. However, it wasn't Adriana Laster—it was 15-year-old Gabrielle Swanson in 2012. Grant was dating her mother and detailed how he broke into their home, kidnapped the teen, and sexually assaulted her. He later buried her in a shallow grave. At the time of the confession, Grant was already serving an 18-year sentence for an unrelated case. For Gabrielle's murder, he was sentenced to 30 years and is set to be released in 2043.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told WLTX News that the authorities are working on serving the incarcerated Grant a warrant in connection with Adriana's case. He has long been considered a suspect. When Lott recently went to interview Grant in prison, he was refused. Additionally, Lott revealed Grant is being investigated in yet another case, but he did not share details.
"I called Freddie Grant a monster back then [in 2013], and I'll stand here and call him that because that's what he is," Lott said. "A monster continues to haunt this community." He added, "I'd love to see him dead."
Adriana Laster's Remains Were Located
On January 12, 2024, a construction worker operating an excavator at a sand pit site discovered what was believed to be a human leg bone. It was reportedly approximately five feet deep under the sand. Investigators descended on the site and soon found various clothing items. Only partial remains have been found so far, and officers promised to continue digging to piece together Adriana's cause of death. However, authorities believe that she was placed there before the company purchased the property in 2018.
Coroner Naida Rutherford gave an emotional press conference, emphasizing that these aren't "simply human remains." Before holding a moment of silence, she said, "This is someone's mom, this is someone's daughter, and she deserves the respect that everybody deserves."
Adriana Laster is our sister, and her life mattered.
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