Missing for months: Search for mom, child brings FBI and SLED to Beaufort County Friday
Four agencies — including the FBI and State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — were conducting “various law enforcement activities” across Beaufort County Friday in search of a Beaufort woman and her young son who have been missing for more than two months.
Spokespersons for the FBI, SLED, Sumter Police and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office would not provide any other details on the specifics or locations of those law enforcement activities.
When asked for additional information FBI spokesman Kevin Wheeler said “Everything is very sensitive so we’re not able to provide that now.”
The statement about the joint search was the first time that the FBI and SLED have revealed they have been involved in the investigation. “It would be fair to call it a joint operation,” said Renee Wunderlich, a SLED spokesperson said.
Sophia Van Dam, 20, and son Matteo, 2, went missing in June. Her texts to families members on June 24 was the last time anybody heard from her.
Van Dam, a Beaufort native, was returning to a house she rented in Sumter after spending time at the home of her parents in Beaufort. Her vehicle was located at the Sumter residence but not Van Dam or her son.
Law enforcement agencies declined to provide information regarding the investigation but the news release says they have “pursued numerous investigative approaches to locate them.”
“As part of the continued efforts, law enforcement members will be active in multiple locations throughout the day,” the agencies said in the statement.
“We are just searching for them,” Wheeler said Friday at around noon.
Theresa Van Dam, Theresa’s mother, said she was not aware of the increase in law enforcement activity related to her missing daughter and grandson.
Anyone with information about the disappearance or Sophia of Matteo is asked to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by phone at 1-888-CRIME-SC, online at P3tips.com or by using the P3tips app for Apple or Android.
Tipsters may also submit online tips to SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov.
This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 12:40 PM.
