AIKEN, S.C. – A 57-year-old Aiken man is wanted in the death of his mother, who was found last week covered with a blanket in bushes in front of her home, police say.
A murder warrant has been issued for Craig B. Baldwin, who lived with his mother in an upscale neighborhood near downtown Aiken, investigators said.
Baldwin was last seen at his daughter's wedding in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, a day after the body of 83-year-old Dale Baldwin was found, police said.
Investigators talked to Craig Baldwin in Kentucky, but didn't have enough information to charge him, Aiken Public Safety spokesman Sgt. David Turno said.
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Leslie Rhodes, mother of the bride, Elizabeth Rhodes Baldwin, acknowledged Wednesday that Craig Baldwin attended the wedding but wouldn't answer other questions.
"I'm not making any comments," Rhodes said. "We are all very sad and mourning and I don't want anyone else in my family contacted. My daughter just got married and I don't want anything to ruin it."
A wedding announcement in a Lexington newspaper said Craig Baldwin walked his daughter down the aisle.
An autopsy Saturday couldn't determine how the woman died and dental records were needed to identify her because the body was badly decomposed, Coroner Tim Carlton said.
Authorities think Dale Baldwin died about a week before her body was discovered.
Investigators have since found enough information to determine her death was a homicide, said Turno, who would not give further details.
Craig Baldwin might not know there is a warrant out for his arrest, Turno said.
Police said Baldwin is a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Officials think he is driving a blue 2002 Toyota Camry with handicap South Carolina tags 66040.
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