6 dead, 1 critical in South Carolina house fire, man arrested on attempted murder charge

Authorities in South Carolina launched a murder investigation over the weekend after six people died and one suffered critical injuries in a house fire.

The fire took place about 11 a.m. Sunday at a home in the small unincorporated community of Greenpond, near Walterboro, about 40 miles from Charleston, S.C., the Colleton County Sheriff's Office reported.

According to a press release, deputies and local fire crews responded to the home and found six people dead. A seventh person was taken to a local hospital by medical helicopter in critical condition, officials said.

After the fire, deputies arrested 33-year-old Ryan Lenard Manigo and charged him with attempted murder in connection to the case. Additional charges are pending, officials wrote in the release.

The office could not immediately be reached by Paste BN on Monday morning.

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Victims identities pending autopsies

An autopsy will determine the victims' identification and cause of death, the sheriff's office said.

Officials have released few details about the case including a motive in the killings and the fire's cause.

Manigo remained jailed Monday at the Colleton County Detention Center. His first court appearance date was not immediately known.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.