Arrest Made in Cold Case of Jason Arion’s Murder After Eight Years

NORTH CHARLESTON

It’s been a long road for the family and friends of Jason Arion, who was tragically killed in 2016 on Johns Island. After years of investigation, the Charleston County Sheriff’s deputies finally have a new lead in this unsettling case. On October 3, 2024, they arrested David Nathaniel Mack, 35, who lives in close proximity to where the crime took place. He now faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, a significant development in a case that has remained cold for nearly eight years.

How Did It Happen?

The investigation took a turn when an informant came forward in July 2024, alerting law enforcement. It appears that Mack allegedly confided in this informant about the details of the incident—details that had not been made public until now. This kind of tip can really help law enforcement connect the dots, and in this case, it led to an arrest.

What’s heartbreaking is the way Jason’s life was cut short. His body was discovered at his home on January 22, 2016, after his mother requested a welfare check, reporting it had been a day since she last heard from him. Police arriving at the scene found Jason with a gunshot wound to the head, and notably, his cellphone was missing. It was a traumatic discovery that shook the community.

Mack: A Person of Interest

Curiously, Mack had been on the police radar since the beginning of the investigation—he was the last person known to have communicated with Jason. He told police that Jason invited him over for a beer shortly after midnight on January 21, 2016. A text message from Jason at 12:48 a.m. confirmed that invitation. However, Mack later contradicted himself, claiming he didn’t go to Jason’s house that night. Instead, he said he stayed in bed until 3 p.m. and only checked on Jason later, finding the doors to Jason’s home locked.

However, this claim didn’t quite add up. When police documented the scene the following day, they found Jason’s door unlocked, contradicting Mack’s statement about the locked doors. Not only that, but police obtained cellphone records that indicated both Jason’s and Mack’s phones were making trips between Johns Island and West Ashley on that fateful night. This evidence will certainly be crucial in the legal proceedings that lie ahead.

Looming Court Proceedings

Mack’s murder charge means he will not be granted bond immediately. In South Carolina, serious crimes like murder require a circuit court judge to make bond decisions. Mack was due to appear before a magistrate judge on October 4 for a bond hearing, where the details of his legal situation will further unfold.

A Community Affected

The case has deeply affected those who knew Jason, and it has also resonated with the broader Charleston community. Justice has been a long time coming, but this recent arrest gives hope that the truth will finally emerge and that justice may be served. For the loved ones of Jason, it’s been almost eight years of uncertainty, and this latest development is a much-needed step in finding closure.

As the authorities proceed with this case, we can only hope that the legal process will work toward ensuring that Jason’s memory is honored and that his family finds peace. After all, nobody should have to endure such a prolonged wait for justice.

We’ll keep an eye on this story as it develops and report any updates as they come in. For now, let’s continue supporting each other as a community.