A university student was murdered after she apparently got into a car she mistook for her Uber taxi.
A man has been charged with killing of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson from the US, who was last seen getting into a vehicle as she left a bar in Columbia, South Carolina, shortly after 2am on Friday.
The body of the University of South Carolina student was found by hunters later that day in woodland in rural Clarendon County, which is about 65 miles (105km) southeast of the city.
Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was detained early on Saturday morning after a police patrol noticed him driving a black Chevrolet Impala, the same type of car that Ms Josephson had got into.
The suspect had tried to flee but a pursuing officer was able to catch him, according to Columbia Police chief Skip Holbrook.
On returning to the car, the officer saw what appeared to be blood in the vehicle he said.
Rowland, who police believe had recently lived close to where the victim’s body was found, has been charged with murder and kidnapping.
Mr Holbrook said: “We believe … that she simply mistakenly got into this particular car thinking it was an Uber ride.”
Referring to security camera footage which captured her getting into the car, he added: “She opened the door and got into it and departed with the suspect driving.”
Mr Holbook told a news conference: “Our hearts are broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered. It was gut-wrenching. This is personal to us.”
Her father, Seymour Josephson, posted a picture on Facebook of him and his daughter.
In an accompanying note, he wrote: “It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life.
“Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten.
“It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart.”