Orangeburg

Coastal with A Southern Flair

Specializing in farmhouse, coastal, modern, country, chic, French, vintage Bohemian to traditional and much more.

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Home Decor Store Near Orangeburg, SC

Whether you're in search of a particular item or need assistance in creating a seamless look for your home, Lavender & Co. Home Decor Boutique is the ideal place to discover inspiration and premium products. We cater to customers who prefer minimalist or maximalist decor, as well as those who fall somewhere in between. Our wide selection of unique home decor options is available for every season, or you can choose a timeless classic to display year-round.

Service Areas

Home Decor Orangeburg, SC

The Lavender & Co Difference

At Lavender & Co, we believe that home decor is an extension of your personality - a part of your self-definition that shows friends and family a peek into your personal identity. That's why we work tirelessly to stock our store with a wide variety of items that appeal to just about every taste and design need that you can think of.

In fact, every member of our staff has a keen eye for aesthetics and a strong passion for design. We are dedicated to searching for high-quality inventory and unique "finds" to offer our customers a personalized shopping experience. Our boutique is a reliable one-stop shop where customers can trust that they will receive the best home decor accessories, advice, and recommendations.

Our Specialties

Our home decor store near Orangeburg, SC, specializes in many different types of designs. In fact, we update our inventory to cater to each season. Whether you stop by for a few minutes or an hour or more, you can find a wide variety of design styles to suit your personal preferences. From traditional to modern, farmhouse to coastal, French to vintage Bohemian, we offer a diverse selection of decor for every room in your home, as well as outdoor spaces.

Our collection includes a range of high-quality, unique products

  • Furniture
  • Wall Hangings
  • Florals
  • Kitchen Linens
  • Mirrors
 Candles Orangeburg, SC
  • Canvas Art
  • Living Room Decor
  • Kitchen Decor
  • Bedroom Decor
  • Seasonal decor
  • Much More!
 Furniture Orangeburg, SC

Plus, if you're trying to find the perfect gift for your friends, family, or that special someone in your life, our home decor items make perfect gifts. Unsure where to start on your home decor journey? Our team of home design and decor experts would love to provide friendly advice and guidance, whether you're redesigning a single room or your entire home.

Our Mission

At Lavender & Co, we believe in providing quality merchandise with excellent customer service while hoping to exceed your expectations. We want to share our passion for and dedication to home interior design so you can create a space that is definitively you. That way, you can take pride in your home and experience the joy of having a place to live that you truly love.

 Kitchen Orangeburg, SC

Why Should You Decorate Your Home?

Decorating your home is one of the best parts about living in it, whether you've just moved in or have been residing there for years. The impact of a well-decorated home cannot be overstated - it can bring out the very best in you, making you more content, productive, and healthier. In addition, a tastefully decorated home can increase its resale value and make it more pleasant to live in. Your choice of decor is a reflection of your personal taste and values, so it's essential that it's both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

The truth is that home decoration is about much more than just creating a pretty room. It's about combining various elements contributing to your home's overall appearance. And while it may take a little time, it's worth doing so you can live in a space that's not just beautiful - it's inherently you.

Here are just a few of our favorite reasons to treat your home with decor you love.

Everyone deserves a home that brings them joy and inspiration, particularly those who spend a great deal of time there. Whether you work from home or simply enjoy spending time in your personal space, redecorating can help you cultivate an environment that truly stands out and motivates you to tackle your to-do list with a smile.

 Table Decor Orangeburg, SC

Do you remember the excitement you felt when you first moved into your new home? Although that feeling may have faded over time, there are ways to revive it. One of the best ways is to redecorate your home with a new look, and one of the best ways to achieve that new look is to shop at a home decor store near Orangeburg, SC. At Lavender & Co, you'll find a wide array of design styles, colors, and textures to choose from, like contemporary, traditional, rustic, Bohemian, and more, to give your home a unique and stunning appearance.

 Stemware Orangeburg, SC

It's important to have a cozy spot in your home where you can unwind and sip on a warm cup of coffee or tea. However, if your living space is dull and uninviting, it can be challenging to feel at ease. A great way to enhance the ambiance of your home and promote relaxation is by incorporating beautiful paintings on your walls. Choose pieces that resonate with you and help you feel calm and at peace. You can complement the paintings by adding scented candles or using them to add warmth and light to the area. These subtle changes to your home decor can make a significant difference in creating a soothing atmosphere.

 Mirrors Orangeburg, SC

Have you ever stopped to consider how long you've been living in your current residence? And how long have you had your furniture? It's easy not to notice how it slowly becomes worn down and faded when you see it every day. But it does, and it takes away from your home's positive aspects. When people redecorate their homes, furniture is one of the most popular options to upgrade. Fortunately, at Lavender & Co, you'll find a healthy selection of new furniture styles year-round, so you can replace old items with newer pieces that reflect your style and preferences more accurately.

 Lamps Orangeburg, SC

If you love hosting gatherings with loved ones or friends and want to make your home stand out, consider using captivating home decor options to elevate your space. By creating a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere, you can ensure that your guests will have a memorable experience and look forward to returning.

 Lighting Orangeburg, SC

Common Characteristics of Popular Home Decor Styles

If you want to revamp the interior design style of your home, but you're starting fresh and don't know where to start, you may be feeling a tad overwhelmed. We get it - choosing the right style for your home can be daunting with so many different design elements. To help narrow down your selection, keep these characteristics in mind, and don't forget to visit our home decor store near Orangeburg, SC, so you can see these styles in person!

6 Flawless Tips to Find Your Home Decorating Style

Are you having trouble selecting furniture or artwork for your home because you're unsure about your style? Do you envy your friends who seem to have no difficulty decorating their homes in a manner that suits them perfectly? Don't worry - you're not alone. At our home decor store near Orangeburg, SC, we speak with customers daily about decor options for their homes. Many aren't sure where to start decorating or how their style has evolved over the years.

If that sounds familiar, don't fret. Here are some of our favorite tips for finding your decorating style.

When selecting textiles for your home, take note of the colors and textures that are present in your favorite clothing items. If you tend to favor neutral hues, then a neutral color palette may be the way to go. However, if you prefer bold and vibrant patterns, then opt for a similar look when it comes to your home decor.

When it comes to finding your personal style inspiration, Pinterest can be overwhelming with its vast array of /wp-content/uploads/2023/09. Instead, consider perusing through magazines and ripping out pictures of rooms and homes that you are most drawn to. There is no need to worry about being right or wrong - just pick out what you love and take note of any common themes among the /wp-content/uploads/2023/09.

As you walk through your home, take note of each room's furnishings, art, and accessories. Create two lists for each room - one for the items you love and another for those you wish to replace. Then, examine the list of items you love and identify any commonalities. Keep this list with you when you go shopping for your home to help guide your purchases and stay true to your personal style.

If you're looking to discover your home decorating style, there are plenty of quizzes available online that can help. Take a few of these quizzes to see what design styles they suggest, and if you get similar results from each one, you're likely on the right path. These quizzes can be both enjoyable and useful in pinpointing your personal style.

Do you find yourself drawn to certain types of houses when you're out and about in Downtown Charleston? Perhaps you're local to Ladson and love the classic look of a brick home nearby. Or maybe you prefer the sleek and simple design of a modern home in a big city. If you're a fan of modern homes, you may also appreciate the minimalism and clean lines that come with modern home decor. On the other hand, if traditional homes are more your style, you might enjoy classic furniture pieces like sofas with rolled arms. The bottom line? Take note of the home styles that make your heart go pitter-patter, and you'll get even closer to discovering your home decor style.

One of the best ways to find your home decor style is to take an hour or two and swing by your local home decor store. Try to choose one that offers many different home decor items and styles for sale, like Lavender & Co. While you're there, be sure to lean on staff members for help. Chances are, they're working at a home decor shop because they have a passion for decorating. Don't forget to mention the types of styles you're interested in and the colors you like. A great sales associate should be able to help lead the way from there.

 Rugs Orangeburg, SC

Easy Ways to Keep Your Favorite Looking New

Finding the perfect piece of furniture to cap off your interior design project is a very satisfying feeling. Finally, your home decor vision is fulfilled! Now, it's time to take some time to relax and enjoy your home. At Lavender & Co, we want you to enjoy that satisfied feeling for as long as possible - which is why we want to talk about easy ways to keep your new furniture looking - well, looking new.

After you select your new furniture from our home decor store near Orangeburg, SC, keep these timeless care tips in mind throughout the year.

Minimize Exposure to the Sun

To prevent your furniture from fading over time, it's best to keep it away from direct sunlight, especially if it's placed under windows.

  • If you can't avoid placing your furniture in the sun, consider moving or rotating it regularly.
  • Additionally, conditioning your leather couches frequently can help slow down the process of cracking.
  • If you want to keep harmful rays out of your home, you can also try adding a window film.
Home Decor Orangeburg, SC

Follow the Furniture's Care Labels

To ensure your furniture stays in pristine condition, it's crucial to review the care label that comes with each piece.

  • This information is tailored to the item you bought and can provide essential guidance on properly caring for it.
  • Even if your furniture doesn't include a care label, it's worth asking the seller for any specific care instructions to ensure you're taking the necessary steps to maintain its appearance.
  • If you bought your piece of furniture from Lavender & Co Home Decor Boutique, give us a call or swing by our store for care tips specific to your new piece.
 Candles Orangeburg, SC

Always Protect Surfaces

What looks better in your living room than a brand-new coffee table? Unfortunately, tabletop surfaces often suffer from water stains and other damage. To prevent damage from daily use, it's important to protect your tabletop surface.

  • Coasters are useful for preventing watermarks from glasses, while placemats, tablecloths, runners, or glass coverings can shield the surface from food stains and children's creative outbursts.
  • Regularly cleaning with mild soap and a damp cloth, as well as dusting and polishing wooden surfaces, can help maintain their appearance.
  • However, be cautious when polishing, as excessive polishing can strip the natural finish.
 Furniture Orangeburg, SC

The Premier Home Decor Store Near Orangeburg, SC

At Lavender & Co, we're passionate about providing our customers with exclusive, hand-selected home decor items that transform their living spaces from bland to beautiful. We combine unique decor for bedrooms, living rooms, entryways, kitchens, and more with a team of experienced design staff who are ready and waiting to help you find the perfect decor piece or gift for your needs. Swing by our store today and discover the Lavender & Co difference.

 Kitchen Orangeburg, SC

Latest News in Orangeburg, SC

Track Covid-19 in Orangeburg County, S.C.

These Covid tracking pages are no longer being updated. Get the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control, or find archived data from The Times’s three year reporting effort here.Daily Covid-19 admissions in the Orangeburg County areaAbout the dataData is from the Centers for Disease Control and P...

These Covid tracking pages are no longer being updated. Get the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control, or find archived data from The Times’s three year reporting effort here.

Daily Covid-19 admissions in the Orangeburg County area

About the data

Data is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalization data is a daily average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Orangeburg County, an area which may be larger than Orangeburg County itself.

The number of daily hospital admissions shows how many patients were admitted to hospitals for Covid and is one of the most reliably reported indicators of Covid’s impact on a community.

Total population

Ages 65 and up

Total population

Ages 65 and up

An updated vaccine is recommended for adults and most children. Statewide, 7% of vaccinations did not specify a home county.

Nearby hospitals

Share of I.C.U. beds occupied

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: The hospitals map shows the average I.C.U. occupancy at nearby hospitals in the most recent week with data reported. The data is self-reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by individual hospitals. It excludes counts from hospitals operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Numbers for hospitalized patients are based on inpatient beds and include I.C.U. beds. Hospitalized Covid-19 patients include both confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023.

How trends have changed in Orangeburg County

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: Weekly county death data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Orangeburg County. Hospitalization numbers early in the pandemic are undercounts due to incomplete reporting by hospitals to the federal government.

Historical trends in Orangeburg County

The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated.

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated. Weekly county case data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023. Test positivity data is based only on test results reported to the federal government and is a seven-day average.

By Jon Huang, Samuel Jacoby, Jasmine C. Lee, John-Michael Murphy, Charlie Smart and Albert Sun. Additional reporting by Sarah Cahalan, Lisa Waananen Jones, Amy Schoenfeld Walker and Josh Williams. See a full list of contributors to The Times’s Covid-19 data reporting here.

About the data

Data on this page is reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Population and demographic data is from the U.S. Census Bureau. Hospitalization data is reported by individual hospitals to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and it includes confirmed and suspected adult and pediatric patients. The C.D.C. does not provide complete vaccinations data for some counties and caps its vaccination rate figures at 95 percent.

The C.D.C. may make historical updates as more data is reported.

The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on Covid cases in May 2023.

Softball Travels To Orangeburg To Face S.C. State In MEAC Series

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 27, 2024)--Morgan State will travel to Orangeburg, S.C. this weekend to take on South Carolina State in a three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series at Lady Bulldog Field.The Lady Bears and Lady Bulldogs will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday, March 29 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., before closing out the series with a single game on Saturday at 12 p.m.Last season the two teams split the series in Baltimore, each winning a game. The Lady Bulldogs claimed Saturday's contest 5...

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 27, 2024)--Morgan State will travel to Orangeburg, S.C. this weekend to take on South Carolina State in a three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series at Lady Bulldog Field.

The Lady Bears and Lady Bulldogs will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday, March 29 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., before closing out the series with a single game on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Last season the two teams split the series in Baltimore, each winning a game. The Lady Bulldogs claimed Saturday's contest 5-3. On Sunday, Morgan State won the opener, 6-1. The Lady Bears held a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning of Game 2 when it was stopped due to darkness.

Morgan State (16-13, 5-1 MEAC) is coming off a tough 4-3 loss in eight innings at rival Towson on Tuesday. The loss ended a season-high six-game winning streak for Morgan State. Prior to the Towson contest, the Lady Bears swept visiting Maryland Eastern Shore in a three-game MEAC series, outscoring the Hawks 18-5.

South Carolina State (4-16, 2-4 MEAC) is coming off being swept by Howard on the road over the weekend, including a 7-0 loss in the finale on Sunday.

Morgan State leads the MEAC in pitching with an ERA 2.65 and fielding 96.3%. South Carolina is sixth in pitching (5.13 ERA) and sixth in fielding (93.5%).

FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go: • Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. • Follow us on social media: Facebook: /MorganStateBears Twitter: @MorganStBears Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

Orangeburg Co. School District to host inaugural International Festival

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WCSC) - In honor of Worldwide International Day of Education, Orangeburg County School District is honoring its international educators with a Thursday festival.The district has over 150 international educators from 12 different countries and the International Festival will recognize these educators and their cultural backgrounds. They plan to hold this event every year now.The event will begin Thursday at 4:45 p.m. at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. They were able to make this happen with the funding of a g...

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WCSC) - In honor of Worldwide International Day of Education, Orangeburg County School District is honoring its international educators with a Thursday festival.

The district has over 150 international educators from 12 different countries and the International Festival will recognize these educators and their cultural backgrounds. They plan to hold this event every year now.

The event will begin Thursday at 4:45 p.m. at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. They were able to make this happen with the funding of a grant.

Upon arrival, attendees will receive a “passport” and travel to different stations representing different countries. Each station will include information about the country, cultural artifacts, as well as an educator from that country to engage with the visitors.

At each station attendees will receive a stamp on their passport. The countries to visit will include India, Jamaica, the Philippines, Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Romania, and several African countries including Malawi, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

Following the traveling, there will be a cultural program held in the gymnasium at 5:45 p.m. This will begin with a parade of nations. They will have flags and traditional outfits from the countries represented. They will do traditional dances and performances from different countries including India, the Philippines, Mexico and Africa. The district’s international educators will also be honored with Certificates of Recognition for their contributions to education.

Following the program, they will have an international food court. Different Orangeburg restaurants will provide cuisine from different cultures for attendees to eat for no charge. All guests in attendance will receive three tokens to redeem food from restaurants representing Mexico, the Caribbean, the Philippines, Thailand and Greece.

Yvonne D. Brown, the Multilingual Learner Program Coordinator for OCSD, as well as a main coordinator of this event, says that having representation like this is so important for not only the staff but the students as well.

“I’m so thrilled because when we talk to the teachers about what this is all about, they’re kind of teary-eyed because they said nothing has ever been done like this in the past,” she says.

Brown says that in their district, there are over 370 students who are considered multilingual learners from 16 different countries. Brown herself came to America from the Philippines to be a teacher. She has now been in the district for 25 years but says that the district recognizing these teachers means so much to her and her story.

“I was like one of the teachers when I first came straight from the Philippines,” she says. “To have been given the opportunity to do that and impact students and to teach - which is the best job in the world - and to know that I was making a difference in my little way... To me, it’s a rewarding, rewarding experience for our district to recognize that for all our teachers.”

She says when she first arrived, there weren’t many international educators in the district. It brings her joy to see those numbers increasing. She says that representation like this is important for the school members and the community.

“Our very small city and bigger county is now welcoming international educators from all over the world, as well as our students that are coming. Every day. We’re getting new students still coming from different parts of the world,” she says. “I have seen the active participation of our district and doing everything that we can to meet the needs of our students and to recognize our educators who are coming and making a grand contribution to our education.”

Brown says this is all about celebrating diverse cultures in the community. The event is open to the public. They are anticipating around 700 people in attendance.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

‘I told you so’: Coroner’s office identifies remains as missing Holly Hill woman

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WCSC) - The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday that human remains found earlier this month in Holly Hill are those of a woman reported missing in August.The coroner was able to confirm the remains were those of 49-year-old Melissa Aguilar using dental records, WIS-TV reported.That’s news that Orangeburg Cou...

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WCSC) - The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday that human remains found earlier this month in Holly Hill are those of a woman reported missing in August.

The coroner was able to confirm the remains were those of 49-year-old Melissa Aguilar using dental records, WIS-TV reported.

That’s news that Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said he learned from Aguilar’s family, not from official channels, shortly before a Tuesday afternoon news conference on the case. That news conference seemed to raise more questions than provide answers, however.

Ravenell said family members told him that someone at the Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office told family members that the human remains discovered on Jan. 4 were those of Aguilar.

“After talking to the family, they informed me that they were informed by the coroner’s office that this was — this actually came back to be Melissa,” Ravenell said.

But the sheriff said his agency had not yet been informed of that confirmation and that he was trying to get a call through to the coroner’s office.

“Officially, we’re still waiting on our own word, but that’s what the family is telling me from the guy from the coroner’s office,” he said. “If that’s the case, I gave the family my condolences and told them that we will continue to pray for them and that this investigation, even though we were working it as a missing person, you know, I will tell you here and now that this was, this investigation, all the time was going in two different directions.”

Aguilar’s sister, Sarah Shipman, said they’ve been experiencing this lack of communication throughout the investigation.

“I don’t know if people know the locations of those two offices but they’re like a building apart,” Shipman said, “Not only did we get a lack of communication, but they can’t communicate with each other.”

Shipman said she filed a formal complaint against the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office through the Attorney General’s Office this past weekend, citing a lack of communication and transparency throughout the investigation.

She said she believes Tuesday’s news conference stemmed from her complaint, but a spokesperson for the agency said they had no knowledge of the complaint at the time.

Aguilar had been reported missing on Aug. 18 by an ex-boyfriend, the sheriff said. Ravenell said their job now is to find out the manner of death.

“And if it was some foul play, then you can be assured that we’ll find out and we will have somebody in custody if there was some foul play,” he said.

Ravenell said investigators questioned people in the months since Aguilar was reported missing, but said without the discovery of remains and the confirmation that the remains were those of Aguilar, they did not know whether anyone was responsible for her disappearance. But he said his agency has a “person of interest” in that disappearance.

“We talked to him, we had enough reason to think that we needed to get his phone and we needed to get this DVR and analyze it,” he said.

The sheriff did not name the person of interest or any possible connection with Aguilar.

Aguilar’s family said the remains were found less than a half-mile from her home.

After asking neighbors for an approximate location of where the remains had been found, Shipman, said she and Agular’s two daughters, Birttany Ranew and Shanna Brown went to the site the next day, hoping for what she called closure.

“As I was hugging my nieces and consoling them, I looked down and found my sister’s jawbone between my feet,” Shipman said on Wednesday.

As of then, the Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office had not confirmed to the family that the remains were of Aguilar. Deputies said the remains had been sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for processing and identification.

“We know her smile, and that smile was in the dirt, and you don’t unsee that, and you know someone’s smile,” Shipman said.

Shipman said investigators promised to collect the rest of the remains, but that when she and Brown returned to the scene the following day, they found what appeared to be several more bones and a tooth.

Ravenell defended his team amid questions about how family members could have found remains after they had supposedly been collected.

“The coroner collected the remains that were there,” Ravenell said.

When a reporter asked about the fact that it struck some people as unusual that there would still be remains left for the family to discover, Ravenell said it struck him as unusual as well.

“You know, it’s just that, just in a case of a dead body, the coroner comes and they pronounce and then they collect and remove. It’s the same thing,” he said.

Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall said they “collected what they saw.” She said, although it’s not unusual, there was no boundary set up by law enforcement indicating where the remains were discovered.

Ravenell said he can understand the family being upset about the lack of answers they’ve received so far and said he wished he’d had the information they told him they had received from the coroner’s office.

“I would be upset. I would be angry with somebody. So I don’t hold anything against the family,” he said. “A lot of people would be way more outraged than they were.”

Moving forward, Shipman said she hopes the agency will show more respect to their family and provide answers regarding what happened to her sister.

“We were screaming this to Orangeburg the moment we saw her smile, it wasn’t relief, it was, ‘I told you so,’” Shipman said.

Sheriff Leroy Ravenell released the following statement:

“On Tuesday, I held a press conference with the sole purpose of informing the public after we had conferred with the family as to where an investigation stood into the recovery of human remains near Holly Hill on January 4, 2024. The community has a vested interest in their county and deserve to know where we stood.”

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

New details emerge in case of missing Orangeburg County woman last seen in August

HOLLY HILL, S.C. – (WIS) As the family of an Orangeburg County woman, who went missing four months ago, seeks answers, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office is releasing new information about the case.The Sheriff’s Office said Friday in a statement that it put out a public call for leads this week after an “unconfirmed report of a possible sighting.”Melissa Aguilar of Holly Hill was ...

HOLLY HILL, S.C. – (WIS) As the family of an Orangeburg County woman, who went missing four months ago, seeks answers, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office is releasing new information about the case.

The Sheriff’s Office said Friday in a statement that it put out a public call for leads this week after an “unconfirmed report of a possible sighting.”

Melissa Aguilar of Holly Hill was reported missing by an ex-boyfriend on August 18, a Sheriff’s Office report states.

Investigators believe she left a home Fourwind Road, which is an unincorporated area of Orangeburg County, after an argument with her ex.

Aguilar’s youngest daughter Shanna Brown told WIS in a Friday interview that the last four months have been excruciatingly painful.

Brown said she used to speak with her mother every day, and the fear of the unknown has caused her so much “anger, heartache, and worry.”

“It’s been really hard trying to juggle a job and put on a smile and act like nothing’s wrong when there’s so much wrong,” she said.

Brown described her last conversation with her mother on August 17, the night before she was reported missing.

During that phone call, Aguilar sounded upbeat and happy, Brown said.

Aguilar was excited about her oldest daughter’s upcoming wedding in September, and the pair discussed Brown’s future wedding plans as well, Brown added.

Immediately following her disappearance, the Sheriff’s Office shared the information with the local newspaper, but did not put out a public release through its official channels, nor send the information to other news outlets like WIS.

On Friday, the Sheriff’s Office provided written answers to some questions, but an investigator familiar with the case was not made available for an on-camera interview.

The department did not provide any specifics about who reported the “unconfirmed report of a possible sighting,” when this happened and where.

Family members, however, say they fear Aguilar is gone.

“She would’ve come back by now, or at least called somebody,” Brown said.

Sarah Shipman, Aguilar’s sister, agrees, and said she does not believe that her sibling would vanish without her belongings, and miss important family events.

There was a law enforcement presence at Aguilar’s last known location, the place she was staying with her ex-boyfriend on Fourwind Road, throughout the morning on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office said they could not explain why so they do not “jeopardize the case.”

“I wish that they would’ve done a lot more than what they did in the beginning,” Brown said.

Brown implored the community to come forward with information, regardless of how inconsequential it may seem.

“If they see anything, they think they see anything, if they hear anything, that we just want to know, we just want to get an idea, a lead, anything so we could bring her home, alive or not,” she said.

Neighbors tell WIS that their statements were taken for the first time on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office declined to answer questions about whether there is a suspect or person of interest in the case, saying they “cannot comment on particulars of an investigation.”

The public is asked to contact the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office with tips, leads or information.

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