A 56-year-old man in South Carolina is facing charges after deputies discovered him sitting calmly on a couch, surrounded by plastic containers filled with what authorities believe are his wife’s dismembered remains.

Charles Antwine Jr. was arrested at his home in Lake City after deputies from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) carried out a wellness check on Saturday and made the disturbing discovery. Sheriff TJ Joye described the scene as something “out of some horror movie,” adding that officers found “containers with body parts in them where they appeared to be cut up.”

Investigators say the case began as a missing person report in Brunswick County, North Carolina, where relatives had reported both Antwine and his wife, Ward, missing last week.

A breakthrough came when a Florence County deputy searching for the pair found a car almost fully submerged in the Lunches River near Riverside Cemetery. After checking the license plate, deputies confirmed it was registered to Antwine, prompting them to visit his home.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they noticed a foul odour drifting from the house. No one responded to their knocks, so they obtained a search warrant. Upon entering, they found Antwine seated on the couch, with multiple plastic containers nearby—taped shut and holding what appeared to be human body parts.

Authorities suspect the remains belong to his wife, though a full autopsy is pending to confirm her identity.

“This is one of the most disturbing scenes our investigators have encountered,” Sheriff Joye said, noting that the investigation is still active and more charges are likely to follow as forensic work continues.

Antwine made his first court appearance on Monday, arriving in a wheelchair with a broken leg. During the bond hearing, Ward’s son gave an emotional plea, urging the court to hold Antwine accountable.

“Now she’s gone and I’ll never get to see her again, and she’ll never get to see any accomplishments I have in life,” he said.

The judge denied bond and deferred the matter to circuit court. As of Tuesday, Antwine remained in custody at the Florence County Detention Center. His next court date is scheduled for August 19.