In the winter of 1997, Stacey Brooke Holsonback was a student at Clemson University, pursuing a degree with dreams and aspirations of her life ahead.
That dream was cut short on February 20th, 1997, when the body of the 19 year old was found in Lake Hartwell just off Highway 93 near Seneca. Her body, according to investigators, was found in a small cove across the road from the Roy Cooper YMCA Recreation Area close to the Clemson University campus. The case received wide spread media attention as the investigation began and continued.
Her death was rule as a homicide by manual strangulation. The last two individuals to see Stacey alive were two Clemson students, who were considered at that time strong persons of interest. Those two individuals told investigators that all three were 4 wheeling and the vehicles got stuck. The persons of interest told investigators that she walked away and that was the last time they saw Stacey.
Even though drugs and alcohol did not play a part in the reported homicide, there had been drinking going on, and no charges were ever filed in the case. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for public’s help to help solve this case from over 16 years ago.
“Even though it has been approximately 16 years since this homicide, Stacy’s family and the investigators involved in this case remember it as if it happened yesterday,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “We will never give up because we know there is someone out there that can provide the information we need to close this case. I ask that person to come forward not only because it is the right thing to do but to allow her family the opportunity to have some sense of closure in their lives.”
“This investigation led to interviews being conducted in many states,” according to Greg Reed, Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. “Those states were Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Florida. Many investigators and law enforcement officials from multiple agencies participated in the investigation as well.”
If you have any information regarding the unsolved homicide of Stacey Brooke Holsonback, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 638-STOP or 1-888-CRIME-SC. You can also text in your tip to 274637. If you tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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