S.C. Serial Killer Blamed in 4 Deaths

(AP)  Sheriff's deputies searched Friday for a serial killer blamed for four deaths over the past six days as terrified residents wondered who might be next.

Investigators have not figured out how the victims are linked or if they knew the man who shot them. So far, all they have is a sketch of a suspect and a possible getaway vehicle, said Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton.

"There's no evidence there is a hit list," Blanton said. "There's no evidence he knows the victims. There's no evidence the victims are connected."

But plenty of evidence links the killings, said Blanton, who would not provide details.

"Yes, we have a serial killer," he said at a news conference.

The latest victims were found in their family's small furniture and appliance shop in the small town of Gaffney, South Carolina, around closing time Thursday. Stephen Tyler, 45, was killed, and his 15-year-old daughter was shot and seriously injured. Tyler's wife, his older daughter and an employee found them, County Coroner Dennis Fowler said.

The latest killing happened one day and about 7 miles from where family members found the bodies of 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Linder Parker, bound and shot in Linder's home. Blanton would not say if Tyler and his daughter were also bound.

The killing spree began last Saturday about 10 miles from Tyler's shop. Peach farmer Kline Cash, 63, was found shot in his living room. Investigators said he appeared to have been robbed, but they haven't determined if anything was taken in the latest killings.

The shootings have prompted fear in Cherokee County, 50 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina, and home to about 54,000 people. The county had just six homicides in all of 2008, and that was double the number reported the year before.

Residents have "their guard up and their gun handy," said Sen. Harvey Peeler, a Republican who represents the area in the state legislature.
By Associated Press Writer Mitch Weiss; AP Writers Jim Davenport and Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report from Columbia

[m0794403]

What I have read regarding this story, this individual does not qualify as a serial murderer. What I have read has stated that the murders began last saturday, making it just over a week ago. This would be spree, not serial homicides. For multiple murders be considered a part of a serial killer, there has to be a cool off period in between, in which this case has not. Yes, this individual has met the required number of bodies. While exact definiton differ mainly in the number of murders required, but it is anywhere from 2 to 4. Protection of Children from Sexual Predator Act of 1998 mandates 3 murders, a recent DOJ- FBI meeting of experts in many fields defines it as 2. There are many other definitions, but those are two of the most significant.

Does people how many times someones shoots a person in their house, that is actually a member of the family that lives there. Or the number of times that a person has been shot, and actually was just in a yard because they were at the wrong house. There was a case several years ago in Alabama I believe, that a foreign exchange student was attending college there, and on Halloween him and a friend was going to a party and they went to the wrong house, and they knocked on the door. Well, the man who lives there, went outside with a gun, and the guy who knocked on the door (who spoke fragmented, and limited English- don't even start that he should know English) started to walk towards him, well this guy shot him in the chest and killed him. The other guy who was with this individual ran(wouldn't you, even if you weren't doing anyting, someone just shot your friend for no reason) well, the guy who lived at the house started shooting at him.. WOW- aren't you so glad tha we have guns so people can kill each other and call it "self defense".

[HK45compact]

Nothing worse than a redneck serial killer on the loose... This guy needs to be taken out.

[gravyboat4000]

That guy looks like Mark Sanford!

[TryTakingMyMoney]

As an American (maybe you are posting from a communist country), like it or not, here, we have a right to defend ourselves regardless of the level of training and thank goodness there's nothing you can do about it. Yeah, it's better to be trained but it doesn't matter. My advice to you...if this guy comes my way...get out of the way. Or, in your case...I guess you will curl up in a fetal position and cry like a baby an hope he leaves. Maybe you should move to Mexico where their citizens are not allowed guns. I here its working real well down there.

[tincup356]

Funny how people are not scared of the corrupt government we have that is in conspiracy with corporate America to exterminate the middle class,,,,,and they are much more capable and dangerous than any serial killer.

[TryTakingMyMoney]

People...listen up! Please exercise your 2nd amendment right and arm yourself now! Do not listen to brainwashed liberals and become a victim. The only way we will stop these criminals and psychos is to use force with force. Don't become a victim, buy a gun now and learn how to use it!

[fred-mertz]

There is very little evidence that people "exercising their 2nd amendment right" actually do ever defend themselves with their guns. Guns are EXTREMELY USEFUL if you want to MURDER someone, but they aren't good for much else. Unless you are VERY THOROUGHLY TRAINED, under exremely stressful circumstances, at least every other month, then when the time comes to "defend yourself", you will either shoot the wrong person or get yourself killed. You are deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

Guns are for murder. Everytime someone gets shot, it's by a gun owner. The only good news is, the #1 person gun owners kill with their guns is THEMSELVES.

[TryTakingMyMoney]

fred-mertz: As an American (maybe you are posting from a communist country), like it or not, here, we have a right to defend ourselves regardless of the level of training and thank goodness there's nothing you can do about it. Yeah, it's better to be trained but it doesn't matter. My advice to you...if this guy comes my way...get out of the way. Or, in your case...I guess you will curl up in a fetal position and cry like a baby an hope he leaves. Maybe you should move to Mexico where their citizens are not allowed guns. I here its working real well down there.

[cs4466]

Residents have "their guard up and their gun handy," said Sen. Harvey Peeler, a Republican who represents the area in the state legislature.

Ahh, so the bumpkins killing themselves by accident total for 2009 will go up to 20 or 30. That's progress for you.

[ubrew12]

Someone needs a trip to Argentina...

[carolhill814]

These are the kind of animals that need to hung by their balls until he bleeds out of ears and after that waterboard him until he dies.

[fred-mertz]

Where's Sanford?