GOOSE CREEK, S.C.–Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury has identified the second victim’s identity in the March 6th double homicide on Pandora Drive. Police say the two victims were shot, their bodies burned beyond recognition and then buried in a shallow grave.
“A DNA test has confirmed the second victim is 32-year-old James Cody Newland of Ladson,” stated Salisbury. “He died from a gunshot wound to the head. His body was also burned and buried in the backyard of the residence.”
Ten days earlier, the coroner’s office identified the second victim in the shootings as 46-year-old Carlas Anderson who later legally changed his name to Guma Dubar.
“He resided in North Charleston and his occupation was a taxi cab driver,” added Salisbury “The preliminary autopsy results indicate the probable cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head and torso. This death will be ruled a homicide.”
Dubar was out on bond on attempted murder charges in connection with a January 2015 drive-by shooting that left one man injured.
Both bodies were unrecognizable due to 100% thermal burns, Salisbury added.
Police say that James Loftis confessed that in the early morning hours of March 5th, he took a cab ride home to his house after leaving a strip club.
After the cab ride, Loftis reportedly told police that he walked inside his home and a short time later the cab driver, Dubar, and Newland banged on the front door. Police say Loftis stated that he then proceeded to open the front door, at which time the other two men pushed their way into the house.
They reportedly then told Loftis that they wanted their money for the cab fare. After being threatened, police say Loftis stated, “I’ll get your money” and walked into another room to obtain a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Loftis went on to explain that he then walked back into the living room and fired eight shots at the cab driver and Newland.
The suspect told police that he then relocated the taxi cab to Old Back River road and walked back to his house. According to the affidavit, Loftis went on to explain that he proceeded to the Kangaroo gas station on Red Bank Road
and purchased five gallons of gas. He then indicated that he cleaned his house with bleach and placed his clothing and the towels used to clean the residence in a hole with the victims’ bodies.
Police say James Loftis then told them that he then burned the bodies, towels and clothing. Police then got a search warrant and found the two burnt bodies located in a shallow grave in the backyard.
Loftis has been charged with two counts of murder.
