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Disposed of the mother’s body in undisclosed river in Tryon

 

POLK COUNTY – A Mauldin, S.C. woman is now facing charges in Polk County for the failure to report her mother’s death and disposing of her body in a Tryon river.

Beth Edith Beamer, 48, was detained in Polk County last month and is charged with concealment/failure to report a death. In December 2022, Beamer pleaded guilty to theft of government property in Greenville County, after receiving nearly $70,000 in social security benefits intended for her deceased mother.

Beamer, 48, admitted that in August 2017, she dumped the body of her deceased mother, Rena Hefner Beamer, down a roadside embankment and into a river in Tryon. Beamer then impersonated her deceased mother, collecting her Social Security benefits for months until the Social Security Administration was made aware of a missing persons case of Rena Beamer. The payments Beth Beamer received totaled $69,909.40. 

Beamer was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for the theft of government property. After completing her sentence, Polk County brought charges on Beamer on April 18 related to the disposal of her mother’s body in Tryon. 

“Once Beamer finished her federal time, she went to McDowell County for charges there. She was then transferred to Polk County to answer for concealment of death which is a Class H felony,” Sheriff Tim Wright said on Wednesday.

Beamer is being held on a $10,000 bond with a court date scheduled for May 17.

Rena Hefner Beamer’s remains were found last year in a ravine alongside Highway 176 between Tryon and Saluda.

 

*This article has been updated with additional information