Bond denied for 2 suspects charged in relation to double murder in Georgetown County

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - Bond was denied Friday morning for both suspects charged in relation to a double murder in Georgetown County.

The two suspects face a number of charges including accessory to murder in the deaths of 57-year-old Melvin Wise and 41-year-old Andrene Steward, both from the Bronx, N.Y. Both were found in a shallow grave in February.

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Thursday, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said Patricia Wise, 51, of Dunbar, and Wilbur Lang, 55, of Choppee were taken into custody in relation to the murders of Melvin Wise and Andrene Steward.

Authorities confirmed Patricia Wise is the sister of the victim, Melvin Wise.

The victims had been staying with family in the Dunbar community for several months according to investigators.

Patricia Wise is charged with two counts of accessory to murder after the fact, obstruction of justice, and criminal conspiracy.

Wise told the judge that she didn’t understand her charges; saying that these are false allegations.

“This is false allegations I promise. Allegations of nothing that happened. They are just saying that I know because I was in the household. I wasn’t even near it,” said Patricia Wise.

Lang is charged with two counts of accessory to murder after the fact, obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy, and two counts of desecration of human remains.

Doreen and Tamika Wise, sisters to both a suspect and a victim, joined the bond hearing virtually. Doreen and Tamike said they did not want bond granted for either Patricia Wise or Lang.

“I’m Taneka Wise. Patricia Wise is my sister slash aunt. Me and the rest of our brothers and my brothers as well. We discussed that we would ask that there will be no bond as well,” said Taneka Wise.

Both were denied bond on all charges and ordered not to speak with members of the victim’s family.

During the bond hearing, GCSO investigator Jonathan Griffith stated that the team tracked down Melvin Wise’s phone record, which led to Patricia Wise’s house. Records showed the pair did not leave the house and were believed to have died.

Investigator Jonathan Griffith also found evidence that Lang was at the burial site.

“We found out at the time the murders were thought to occur which is on the 29th. Wilbur Lang was wearing an ankle monitor. Bond receiving the data from the ankle monitor, it showed Wilbur Lang travel to Patricia’s house and to the burial site where we found the body,” said Griffith.

The investigation is ongoing, and GCSO is expecting more arrests and additional charges.

The preliminary hearing for Wise and Lang is scheduled for next month.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office at 843-546-5102.

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