HomeGold papers found, computers seized

GREENVILLE — The discovery of some documents from bankrupt HomeGold Financial Inc. in an Upstate recycling bin has led investigators to seize computers and papers from a Greenville storage facility.

Investigators said they found a 2000 financial statement, a report to the board of directors and correspondence from HomeGold’s attorney in the bin after a receiving a tip from some storage facility employees.

The state attorney general’s office is investigating HomeGold and its Pickens-based subsidiary, Carolina Investors Inc. About 8,000 South Carolinians lost $275 million when HomeGold filed for bankruptcy protection last year.

Friday’s seizures came after warehouse employees told a private investigator that unidentified people loaded some items from the storage facility into pickup trucks and drove away, said Rick Gleissner, an attorney working for the court-appointed federal trustee in charge of the bankrupt companies.

• Atlanta residents killed in I-26 crash

Two people were killed Saturday afternoon in a three-car wreck in Orangeburg County.

Just after noon Saturday, Eva Brown, 55, and Hiram Brown, 56, both of Atlanta, were killed while driving along I-26, east of Orangeburg, said Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall.

The two died at the scene, she said. Further details were not immediately available.

• Worker dies after fall at construction site

A Mexican national working for an electrical contractor was killed Saturday after falling at a Richland County work site.

Isidoro Lomeli Castorena, 26, was doing construction work at Sterling Universal Oaks apartments at 21 National Guard Road when he fell around 6:30 p.m., said Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.

Castorena fell 15 to 20 feet, Watts said. An autopsy is scheduled for today, Watts said.

• Richland County fire destroys mobile home

Fire destroyed a mobile home in northern Richland County Saturday night.

Just before 7 p.m., a neighbor noticed a fire at a mobile home at 9401 Wilson Blvd. When fire crews arrived, they learned that no one was home, said Battalion 3 Fire Chief Scott Fulkerson. No one was seriously injured but the neighbor was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, Fulkerson said.

An electrical malfunction inside a dryer is believed to have caused the blaze, he said. Damage was estimated at $9,000.

From Staff and Wire Reports.