NORTH – A Swansea couple Saturday morning were officially charged in the stabbing death of a North man.

Mark Anthony Burnette, 27, 117 Kas Court, was officially charged with murder in connection with the death of 25-year-old Marion Lanorris Charley, 209 Palmetto Avenue for the April 18 stabbing incident.

Danielle Jacklynn Coombs, 17, same address, was charged with accessory after the fact of murder.

The couple are scheduled to appear at the Ellis Avenue Orangeburg County Law Enforcement Complex courtroom today at 10 a.m for arraignment. A bond hearing is scheduled for another time.

North Police Chief Mark P. Fallaw said the court appearance was deferred to Sunday due to Saturday funeral services for Charley.

Charley was buried at St. Mark United Methodist Church East Cemetery in North.

Family members of both the victim and those charged are expected to be in attendance at the court appearance, said Fallaw.

Law enforcement received several tips concerning the death Wednesday after news of North’s first homicide in at least a decade was given to media.

Acting on a tip, North police, State Law Enforcement Division agents and members of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office converged on the Swansea man’s home Thursday afternoon.

Police developed a suspect through a Crimestoppers tip. That led them to Calhoun County and Burnette’s residence.

Fallaw said Burnette and Coombs have admitted to involvement in the stabbing death.

Investigators had been looking for two individuals who were seen with Charley prior to the North man’s death.

A statewide alert was issued for a mid-90s, green four-door vehicle bearing a red-lettered paper license plate. A 1993 Nissan Altima resembling that description was located at the Swansea man’s Calhoun County residence.

Police have not yet determined a motive for the stabbing. However, under a search warrant, illegal narcotics were found at the victim’s residence, Fallaw said.

On Friday, S.C. Department of Natural Resources divers searching a pond in western Calhoun County discovered the knife officials believe was used in the murder.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, police found Charley dead in front of his Palmetto Avenue residence. He had been stabbed once in the chest.

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