CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. – A man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his wife. Dionicio Abarca, 46, was found guilty of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The case began on July 18, 2020, when Alicia Garcia and her husband, Abarca, told their children they were going to run errands at a field they owned, a rental property, and Walmart. However, they never returned home. The following day, their children reported them as missing, stating that their parents had an argument the night before.
Deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office discovered Garcia’s body partially buried in a field, with severe head and neck wounds inflicted by a machete-like weapon. At a nearby rental property, Abarca’s abandoned truck was found. After the murder, Abarca left his truck behind and fled with a nephew, refusing to allow the nephew to use a phone or turn the truck around.
Abarca and his nephew were eventually located at an abandoned gas station in Baldwin County, Alabama, after the nephew asked for a rest. Abarca was arrested for unlawful imprisonment, and officials found a significant sum of money and two passports with Abarca’s name in his possession.
Following his arrest in Alabama, Abarca was charged with the murder of his wife and extradited back to South Carolina to face justice. In the end, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and an additional five years for the possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences it can have for families. It also highlights the dedication and thorough investigative work of law enforcement in ensuring that justice is served for the victims of such heinous crimes.