America: Just killed his girlfriend, had a heart attack and died

Officers from the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a home in Trenton on May 7 after receiving reports of a man lying motionless in the yard, Sheriff Jody Rowland and Edgefield County Inspector David Burnett said in a joint statement.

The body of the man mentioned above was identified as Joseph Anthony McKinnon, 60 years old. However, when investigating McKinnon’s death, authorities discovered the body of Patricia Ruth Dent, 65, inside “a newly dug hole”.

Authorities suspect McKinnon died of natural causes while Dent may have been murdered. An autopsy on May 9 confirmed McKinnon died of a heart attack and Dent died of strangulation.

Patricia Ruth Dent’s body was discovered in a hole in the back of her house. Photo: Daily Mail

“Evidence obtained at the scene and eyewitness accounts helped investigators build a timeline, leading us to believe that Mr McKinnon attacked Ms. Dent while they were both in their home.” – added the joint statement.

Authorities concluded that after strangling Ms. Dent, Mr. McKinnon wrapped her body in a garbage bag before pushing it into a hole he dug earlier. While filling the hole, McKinnon suffered a heart attack and died, officials said.

The victim’s twin sister Pamela Briggs Dent said she was “shocked” and “couldn’t believe” the incident happened.

“Everyone who has met Patricia Ruth Dent has sympathies with my sister. My sister is a person full of life, 65 years old and still working. It is a nightmare” – Pamela Briggs shared.

Patricia Ruth Dent, 65, is the girlfriend of 60-year-old Joseph Anthony McKinnon. Photo: Facebook