The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office has charged Terry Lee Self, Jr., 37, with the murder of his mother, Regina Arroyo. According to arrest warrants, Self is accused of strangling his mother and disposing of her body in the Edisto River.
“A canoer found the body of the suspect’s mother in the Edisto River Dec. 3,” said Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. “Detectives confirmed the suspect and his mother were at the suspect’s house and left there together after an argument.”
Sheriff Koon detailed the chilling sequence of events. “The evidence in the case indicates the suspect used a ligature to strangle Ms. Arroyo. After he killed Ms. Arroyo, Self then dumped her body in the river and left. Detectives have been working on this case for seven months zeroing in on the person responsible for Ms. Arroyo’s death. We hope to give her family members and loved ones some sense of closure.”
Self is currently being held in Richland County at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on an unrelated charge. He was officially charged with his mother’s murder on Monday and has been denied bond.
Regina Arroyo’s family, devastated by her loss, spoke about her loving nature and the deep void her death has left. “She really had the biggest heart,” said Mindy Chrysler, Regina’s daughter. “I love you always. I’ll see you later. That was always her thing.”
Regina was a mother of five, and Chrysler recalled how Regina would leave notes for her children every time she visited. “Never thought that there would be this day where I wasn’t going to see her again,” said Chrysler, reflecting on the profound impact of her mother’s death.
The pain of losing her mother is compounded by the finality of never hearing her voice again. “I just miss her saying that it’s gonna be ok because right now I don’t know if it’s gonna be ok,” said Chrysler.
The sheriff’s office continues to work diligently on the case to ensure justice for Regina Arroyo and provide some solace to her grieving family. The arrest and charge of Terry Lee Self, Jr. mark a significant step in this process.