Report: Homicides Increased by 66% in 2012

Berkeley County Coroner's Office had more cases in 2012 than in 2011, and the increase in deaths also featured an increase in homicides, suicides and accidental deaths.

In total, the officer investigated 775 deaths in 2012. In 2011, it investigated 708. This represents roughly a 10 percent increase in deaths in the county. 

Homicides, suicides and accidental deaths outpaced the 10 percent increase. Homicides increased by about 66 percent, suicides increased by 35 percent, and accidental deaths increased by nearly 62 percent. Motor vehicle deaths remained the same.

Here are some of the homicide cases from 2012:

• Homicide on Jean Wells in December
• Pineville shooting homicide in December
• Shooting victim found in car in December
• Francis Marion homicide in September
• Strangling victim found in car in September
• Two women shot to death in September
• Deadly shooting of Atlanta hip hop artist in August
• Hanahan homicide in July 
• One dead in Cross shooting in May
• Homicide in April
• Reckless homicide in traffic wreck in April