Three people have been arrested on kidnapping charges as officials continue to search for a missing Upstate businessman.
22 -year-old Kendra Howell, 29-year-old Jeremiah Johnson, and 17-year-old Zachary Gantt have been charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of 53-year-old Chandrakant “C.J.” Patel. Patel was the manager of an Exxon gas station on Clemson Boulevard in Anderson County.
He was last seen on July 1st when he told a clerk at the store that he would return in a few hours. Patel’s vehicle was found abandoned on July 3 in the Fair Play community.
Officials say their investigation led them to a home in the Homeland Park community.
“The investigators were able to locate surveillance video (from the home) that actually helped them identify key people in the investigation,” said Anderson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chad McBride.
McBride said investigators now believe that Patel was held against his will in the home for at least some time. Deputies say they still hope to find the businessman alive. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Ed Jenson contributed to this report.
