Spartanburg County Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Missing Woman Case

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Da’Ron Jerome Collins, 47, of Boiling Springs, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and witness tampering in connection with an ongoing federal kidnapping investigation.

Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that 44-year-old Casey Lavonne Young was last seen on May 15, 2023, after she left work and arrived at the residence she shared with Collins in Boiling Springs. Collins initially stated that Young did not come home after work, but later admitted to investigators that he last saw Young when she arrived home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2023. The same day, Collins was captured on security cameras as he wiped surfaces of Young’s car down and hid it in a parking lot away from their residence. Two days before Young disappeared, police responded to the couple’s residence after a 911 caller reported a domestic violence incident where Collins was accused of strangling Young.  No arrest was made at that time.  

During the guilty plea, prosecutors stated that the evidence showed Collins destroyed and attempted to hide and destroy physical and electronic evidence, including home security video clips, Young’s vehicle and other personal identifying items, material to the federal investigation.  Collins also provided investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office false and misleading information to prevent the communication of information relevant to the investigation to federal law enforcement.  To date, Young has not been found.

Collins was denied bond on the federal charges, and he remains in custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment as to each offense.  He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to six years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Collins after he reviews a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington is prosecuting the case.

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