Arrest Made: Samantha Josephson Of NJ, Missing USC Student, Dies

An arrest was made Saturday after the body of a missing University of South Carolina student from New Jersey was found, according to police.

Samantha Josephson, 21, of Robbinsville was found dead in Clarendon County – about 65 miles southeast of Columbia – after she went missing on Friday, according to police. Her body was found around 4 p.m., nearly 16 hours after she disappeared, by two men who were turkey hunting.

Nathaniel David Rowland, 25, was arrested around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning in downtown Columbia and charged with murder and kidnapping, police said.

Rowland was arrested after a traffic stop, just as police were searching for a black Chevrolet Impala that may have been involved in the crime. He was apprehended after he fled on foot, and police subsequently found blood throughout his vehicle.

Police said Josephson mistakenly got into Rowland's vehicle around 2 a.m. on Friday morning after calling for an Uber ride.

"Our hearts are broken," said Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook. "There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered. It was gut-wrenching. This is personal to us."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family just as the father offered sorrowful words for his daughter.

Harris Pastides, the USC president, released a statement, saying: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write these words this morning."

"Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death," he sad. "Times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort. However, I take solace that the Carolina Family is here to embrace those who are hurting."

Samantha was last seen by friends at 715 Harden St. in Columbia, SC between 1:30 and 2 a.m. on Friday, police said. Loved ones were not able to make contact with her afterward, and they were "worried about her well-being and safety," police said.

“When she didn’t show up at her downtown residence and didn’t answer repeated phone calls, her friends became concerned and notified CPD,” police said in a statement.

Josephson was a senior political science major who was supposed to graduate in May, according to The State. She was preparing to go to Drexel University law school in Philadelphia.

Pastides told students that, as they make plans for the weekend, "remember the tenets of Stand Up Carolina: look out for one another, be active bystanders. Travel in groups and stay together. If you have not already done so, download the RAVE Guardian safety app, set up your profile and learn how to use it."

"It has been a difficult week for our extended Carolina family," he said. "The loss of a student is never easy but this has been a particularly painful few days as we have experienced loss on several of our campuses. As a family, let’s continue to pray for all the families experiencing heartache and grief this week."

David Friedrich, principal of Hopewell Elementary School who works with Samantha's mom, announced on Twitter that he was "heartbroken to share that the body of Samantha Josephson has been found. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers."

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in. Here were the alerts that the police also posted: