Seneca, S.C. — The Seneca community is reeling after 50-year-old Douglas John “DJ” Olin Edmond Jr. was found dead in Lake Hartwell late Monday afternoon, closing a painful chapter in a search that began more than a week ago. His body was pulled from about 36 feet of water in a quiet cove near the Timberlake One subdivision just before 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 29 by divers with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Friends and family had reported Edmond missing after he didn’t return home, triggering growing concern in a tight-knit community where he was known simply as “DJ”—a warm, dependable presence and avid outdoorsman.
Officials now believe Edmond died early on Dec. 20, when he set out in a small boat across a cove to go deer hunting. That trip marked the last time anyone saw him alive. His truck—an older-model Ford—was later found parked at the boat ramp where he launched that day.
The first hint of trouble came on the afternoon Edmond disappeared. Deputies were called to the ramp after a report of someone asking for help, though no person was found at the scene that day. The discovery of his truck stirred concern, but neighbors initially thought his absence wasn’t unusual, since Edmond often spent days in the woods.
By Dec. 23, when the truck was still there, deputies returned to check on his welfare and confirmed it belonged to Edmond. Still, life in the outdoors can be unpredictable and many held out hope—until family members reached out on Dec. 28, saying the time gone felt too long. That’s when a missing-person investigation kicked into gear.
The search ended in heartbreaking confirmation the next day, when resources from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources located Edmond’s body deep in the lake. An autopsy later confirmed that drowning was the cause of death, though authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.
Loved ones in Seneca and beyond are remembering DJ for his kindness and quiet generosity—a man who loved the outdoors and was always ready with a story or a smile. As the community mourns, families and friends are holding tight to memories of moments shared, while offering prayers and support to one another during this difficult time.
