A man died of a heart attack while he was burying a woman he strangled in his yard, police say

South Carolina officials believe that a man died of a heart attack while burying a woman he had killed in his backyard.

Edgefield County Sheriff Jody Rowland and County Coroner David Burnett said in a joint statement on Tuesday that on May 7 they received a report of an unresponsive male in the yard of a residence on Tanglewood Drive.

The statement was first published.

The officials found the body of Joseph McKinnon, who appeared to have died of natural causes, upon their arrival.

The body wrapped in a plastic bag and lying in a freshly dug pit was found by the deputies.

Authorities said that the body was that of Dent, who lived with McKinnon. There is no known relationship between Dent and McKinnon.

The autopsy results show that Dent died of strangulation and McKinnon died of a cardiac arrest.

Evidence gathered at the scene, along with statements from witnesses aided investigators to build a timeline, leading us to believe that Mr. McKinnon attacked Ms. Dent while inside their home.

Mr. McKinnon put her in the pit after binding her and wrapping her in trash bags. The pit was partially filled by Mr. McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon had a cardiac event while covering the pit.

Insider did not get a response from the Edgefield County Sheriff's office.