SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities have identified a man who was found dead after a neighbor went to investigate smoke and found his body on Friday night.
Coroner Robbie Baker said the neighbor found 74-year-old Richard Taylor of South Lake Cherryvale Drive when he noticed the smoke coming from Taylor's yard and went to check. Authorities were notified around 6 p.m.
"At this time, it appears Mr. Taylor was burning debris," Coroner Robbie Baker said in a statement. "It is unknown at this time whether Mr. Taylor had some type of medical issue or he was overcome by the smoke and/or fire."
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to further determine Taylor's cause and manner of death.
Sumter Fire deferred questions to the Sumter County Sheriff's and coroner's offices. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that an incident involving a fire was under investigation and said additional information would be released when available.
