by Columbia, SC – The Columbia Police Department has officially named Anthony Reese as a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Angela Fuller, a 56-year-old Midlands mother who has been missing for nearly two weeks.
Fuller was last seen on August 29 on Beltline Boulevard in Columbia, just days after celebrating her 56th birthday. Since then, police have been relentless in their efforts to locate her, searching close to 100 locations across the city.
Developments in the Investigation and Person of Interest
Authorities have confirmed that Fuller was last seen in the company of Anthony Reese, who is currently incarcerated in the Richland County Jail on unrelated charges. Reese is being held on $150,000 bail following a high-speed chase through Richland and Lexington counties last week.
Deputy Chief Melron Kelly of the Columbia Police Department emphasized the significance of Reese’s involvement, stating,
“He is definitely a person we need to speak more in depth with. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned that relates to Ms. Fuller.”
The Growing Concern Over the Nature of the Case
Given the lack of new information and the severity of circumstances, police are now treating the case as a potential homicide investigation. Deputy Chief Kelly explained,
“We’re using some criminal intelligence data for where she could be. At this point, due to the level of cooperation and the information we haven’t gotten, we’re treating this as a could-be homicide investigation because we just don’t know.”
This shift has understandably been devastating for Fuller’s family. Emani Harley, Fuller’s niece, shared her family’s emotional struggle, saying,
“We’re trying to stay strong but it hurts, just knowing they’re even treating it like that because we don’t want to believe this is homicide. We want to bring her home safe but we’re hurting so bad right now, we’re scared because, like I said before, we just don’t know.”
Community Involvement and Next Steps
Authorities continue to call on the community for assistance in uncovering any information that could lead to Fuller’s whereabouts. Deputy Chief Kelly appealed to the public, stating,
“We really need the community’s help in locating Ms. Fuller or any information you may have that will lead to information in this investigation.”
- Angela Fuller was last seen on August 29 on Beltline Boulevard.
- Anthony Reese is a named person of interest and is currently detained on unrelated charges.
- Police have searched nearly 100 locations throughout Columbia.
- Reese was involved in a high-speed chase prior to this announcement.
- Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
What Can You Do to Help?
The case of Angela Fuller’s disappearance has deeply affected the Columbia community. With limited information and a growing concern of foul play, the police are urging citizens to stay vigilant and report any relevant information immediately.
Community members are encouraged to:
- Share any sightings or information about Angela Fuller or Anthony Reese.
- Contact authorities confidentially through Crimestoppers.
- Stay informed about developments in the case through local news outlets.
What do you think about the ongoing search for Angela Fuller? Have you noticed any information that could assist authorities? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
