By Kyle Martin
The Augusta Chronicle
AUGUSTA, Ga. — An Augusta woman was identified Saturday as the homicide victim whose burned body was found Aug. 11 on Old Storm Branch Road in Aiken County.
Shalamar N. Byrd’s brother recognized her from a sketch released this week by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and contacted authorities, Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said in an e-mail Saturday.
Investigators confirmed his suspicions by comparing a partial print from the body to other fingerprints belonging to Byrd, Carlton said.
That test was further backed up by a DNA test between Byrd’s genetic material and her mother’s. The results were released Saturday by state investigators, Carlton said.
“This investigation into identifying Ms. Byrd was a joint effort with many agencies, and although we are saddened for the family, we are pleased that all agencies worked together,” Carlton said.
Byrd was the second victim found burned the night of Aug. 11. Before Byrd was discovered by firefighters extinguishing a brush fire, Aiken Public Safety firefighters found Yana Schenker, 75, dead in her home on the 100 block of Paddock Bend.
Carlton had determined that both women died of asphyxiation. No arrests have been made in either death.
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