The body of Edward Bryant Phillips is re-interred Monday afternoon. Authorities swooped in just after dawn Monday and exhumed Phillips' body. It was taken to Newberry where a forensic autopsy was conducted and samples sent for testing. Quietly on Monday, authorities opened the grave of Julia Phillips' husband at Oakland Cemetery in Gaffney.
Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler confirmed that the body of Edward Bryant Phillips, who died June 2, 1999, was exhumed beginning at about 6 a.m. Monday.
Fowler said he transported Phillips' body to Newberry for a forensic autopsy and samples were sent for testing.
The probe into Phillips' 1999 death began after Fowler said he was contacted in May by members of Edward (more popularly known as "Bryant") Phillips' family who expressed concern and provided him with information. Fowler said more information was then gathered, leading to the exhumation.
Fowler could offer no results from Monday's autopsy, saying he was awaiting test results.
Phillips body was re-interred Monday afternoon. Family members who stood watch over the proceedings declined comment.
Julia Phillips recently was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 4 strangulation murder of Melvin Roberts, a prominent York attorney she dated for the past 10 years. She remains free on bond.
Fowler was expected to release more information later Monday.
According to Edward Bryant Phillips' 1999 obituary, he was 64 when he died at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. He spent 37 years working for the U.S. Postal Service and was a volunteer with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Senior Care Program, through which he made calls to shut-ins to check on their welfare.
More information will be made available online and in print as it becomes available.