SUMTER, SC (WIS) - A Myrtle Beach man is still missing after last being seen leaving a club in Sumter.
Brandon Graves was in Sumter over the weekend for homecoming festivities, when he went to join some friends at a Sumter night club. He hasn't been heard from since.
Video taken outside of Sebastian's Club in Sumter could hold the key in bringing Graves home safely. It shows the 24-year-old trying to enter the nightclub, being turned away by a bouncer, and leaving.
Night Manager Michael Gainey was standing just a few feet away when Graves came up to the club.
"He was intoxicated we think but not out of hand, but we didn't want any trouble so we told him he had to leave for the night," said Gainey.
Witnesses at the bar say Graves left in a white car, and hasn't been seen since.
Maj. Larry Florence is with the Sumter County Sheriff's Department. He says investigators are have a hard time figuring out why anyone would want to harm Graves.
"We right now haven't established anything as far as any foul play whatsoever," said Florence.
Brandon's short stature earned him the nickname "Peanut," but his family says that name didn't fit the size of his heart.
Brandon's oldest brother Lorenzo talks about the missing man.
"Very good person, very outspoken," said Lorenzo. "Very friendly, everybody he met became his friend."
Several members of Graves' family came from Dillon to Sumter to look for him. They said they think Brandon may have left Sebastian's for another club with someone else.
In any case, they just want to find him.
"It has my family tore up, it has my town tore up, my church family -- it has them torn up because none of them thought this could happen to Brandon," said Lorenzo.
Despite getting turning him away from the club, Gainey shares his hopes that Graves is fine.
"I'd like to see him found and brought home safe," said Gainey.
Graves stands 5'4 tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He suffers from asthma, and his family is concerned that without proper medication, his health could suffer.
If you see Graves, you're urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-CRIME-SC.
