Man Who Traveled After Online Job Offer Found Dead in Trash Can; Police Investigate Homicide

Authorities in Marion, South Carolina, are investigating the death of 32-year-old David Hutchinson after his decomposing body was discovered inside a trash can at a Pearl Street residence on Jan. 29. Local officials are treating the case as a homicide as they seek to establish what happened after Hutchinson traveled to Marion in December following an online contact who promised a well‑paying job.

Discovery and Timeline

The Marion County coroner told local media Hutchinson’s remains were found at a home on Pearl Street on Jan. 29. Hutchinson had arrived in Marion in December and was scheduled to return to Massachusetts in early January. When he failed to come home, his family reported him missing and local investigators opened an inquiry.

Investigation Details

Marion Police Chief Tony Flowers said investigators are treating the death as a homicide and that the case remains active. Chief Flowers told reporters there could be as many as a dozen persons of interest connected to the Pearl Street residence, explaining that the home sees frequent traffic and that numerous people come and go, complicating the effort to determine who was present when the death occurred or whether it happened inside the house or nearby.

Jaida BraddyMarion County Detention Center

Arrest

On Jan. 30, 41-year-old Jaida Braddy was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to a felony in connection with Hutchinson’s death. Inmate records indicate Braddy is being held at the Marion County Detention Center on a $15,000 surety bond.

"David isn’t just a drifter who showed up in town, or another statistic. He’s a son, a brother, a cousin. An uncle and a friend to a lot of people up here who loved him tremendously. We prayed this story would have a better ending, and we’ll miss him so much," Hutchinson’s brother told local media. "Naive and too trusting, but a good kid who made bad decisions at times, and this time he sadly had to pay the ultimate price for it."

Background and Community Response

Hutchinson worked as a barber and family and friends described him as warm and outgoing. A GoFundMe set up in his memory described him as having a "kind heart and the biggest personality." Local law enforcement has not released additional details about evidence or motive while the investigation continues.

Call For Information

Investigators are asking anyone with information about Hutchinson’s movements, the Pearl Street residence, or the people who frequented the house to contact Marion police. Tips from neighbors, visitors, or anyone who communicated with Hutchinson after his arrival in Marion could be important to the ongoing inquiry.