Investigators are still running down leads in the September disappearance of a Whiteville-area man.
Williams “Barry” Freedman, 62, was last seen Sept. 23 in the 1200 block of Jordan Road. The sheriff’s office issued a press release earlier this week asking for the public’s assistance in the case.
Sources said Freedman occasionally disappears for several days at a time, but rarely stays gone for very long. A records check showed this was the first time a missing persons report for Freedman has been filed with the sheriff’s office
Freedman’s wife Lisa is a public defender with the Scotland County courts. She was previously an assistant district attorney for the 13th Judicial District, which includes Columbus County.
Freedman served six months in federal prison and six on home confinement after a December 2007 incident at the family’a livestock facility, Freedman Farms. Approximately 324,000 gallons of untreated hog waste was discharged into Browder’s Branch, a tributary of the Waccamaw River. Freedman pleaded guilty in 2011 to intentionally releasing the hog waste.
Freedman Farms paid a $500,000 criminal fine and $1 million in restitution that was used by the Coastal Land Trust to purchase and preserve wetlands along the Waccamaw.
Anyone tried information about Freedman’s whereabouts is asked to call 910.642.6551 or use the Submit-a-Tip tab on the sheriff’s office app.
