Reward offered for info surrounding Lancaster County man’s opioid overdose death

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Investigators are asking for the public’s help as they work to figure out the events that led to a man’s apparent opioid overdose death in Lancaster County earlier this year.

Jason Pitts was found dead inside a Toyota Scion on Monday, March 30.

According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the 40-year-old had performed landscaping work for a Monroe resident until 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.

Investigators said Pitts planned to attend a family function in Lancaster the following day, Sunday, March 29, but never showed up.

At 9:20 a.m. on Monday, March 30, officers were called to a parking lot at 301 South Wylie Street in Lancaster after someone walking along the road noticed the Scion parked next to the old Boy Scout Hut at the Wylie Street ballfields.

Pitts was found dead in the front passenger seat of the car. An autopsy determined that he died of an opioid overdose.

Detectives said he had been borrowing the car from a friend. The Scion displayed North Carolina tag HFZ-9048.

Investigators have not identified anyone who had contact with Pitts between 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:20 a.m. Monday when his body was discovered. Detectives and Pitts' family are trying to figure out where Pitts was and whom he was with during that time gap.

Midlands CrimeStoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in Pitts' death investigation.

“We are doing everything we can to get some answers for this family,” said Sheriff Barry Faile. “There’s a big gap from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning, and we have no doubt Mr. Pitts was moving about and interacting with folks. We hope someone who saw him or the Scion will contact us or CrimeStoppers to provide this vital information which could reveal the circumstances of his death. Information may be provided anonymously.”

Anyone with information about this case should call the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office at 803-283-3388 or contact Midlands Crimestoppers at 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).

Family wants answers after 9-month-old dies of drug overdose Family wants answers after 9-month-old dies of drug overdose

Cox Media Group