Beaufort man sought in connection with Ver'mon Steve's death

A Beaufort man is being sought in connection with the death of Ver'mon Steve, whose body was found off Pea Patch Lane on St. Helena Island on Nov. 18.

The Beaufort Police Department is looking for Tayquan Lampkin, 20, of Washington Street, according to the department's news release.

Lampkin is wanted on a charge of being an accessory after the fact of murder and should be considered armed and dangerous, the release said.

Lampkin is known to frequent the area of Jenkins Port Road on St. Helena as well as the northwest area of Beaufort.

Anyone with information on his location can call Sgt. George Erdel at 843-322-7958 or remain anonymous by calling 843-322-7938.

Steve, 36, disappeared from his Greene Street home Oct. 25.

Varsheen Antuan Smith, 39, and Tyron Anthony Wallace, 21, have been charged with kidnapping in connection with his disappearance.

On the day he disappeared, an acquaintance of Steve's went to his Green Street home to meet with him. Steve was not there.

When he arrived, the acquaintance was allegedly held at gunpoint by Smith and Wallace and tied up. Smith, Steve's roommate, and Wallace allegedly threatened him with a gun before deciding to let him go, according to a Beaufort Police Department release.

Once the acquaintance left the home, he contacted Steve's mother to tell her about her son's disappearance.

Smith and Wallace left Beaufort County after the incident. Police obtained warrants for both men on Oct. 30, the release said.

Smith was arrested Nov. 5 in Hall County, Ga, and was also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the release said.

Wallace also left the state, but turned himself in to the Police Department Nov. 16.

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This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Beaufort man sought in connection with Ver'mon Steve's death."