A sketch released by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department of a possible suspect in a series of recent murders in Cherokee County, S.C. (AP PHOTO/CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT / July 4, 2009)
GAFFNEY, S.C -
A teenage girl shot in her fathers store has become the fifth victim of a South Carolina serial killer, said authorities.
Abby Tyler, 15, died of gunshot injuries after being shot in her at her family's small furniture and appliance store in Gaffney, S.C. Thursday. The girl's father, Stephen Tyler, 45, was also shot and killed Thursday at Tyler Home Center.
The father-daughter deaths come after three others since last Saturday - a peach farmer, an elderly woman and her daughter. Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton believe all five deaths are connected.
"We're concerned," Blanton told reporters Friday. "We're dealing with a man that's killed four people."
The suspect is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, with blue eyes. Blanton classified him as a serial killer.
Investigators, however, say it's still unclear whether or not the suspect and the victims knew each other, or whether the killer is familiar with the area. The murders all happened within 10 miles of each other in Cherokee, a county of 54,000 people about 50 miles south on Interstate 85 from Charlotte, N.C.
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 also appeared to have been robbed.
Thursday 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 sheriff said evidence makes it obvious that Cash's killing is linked to the deaths of the women, but refused to give any other details.
"This person is gonna be somebody that not a lot of people pay attention to or give a second look to," said Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, whose department has joined the investigation. "Obviously, he's either really good or really lucky."
Every available police officer will work the holiday weekend, Blanton said, acknowledging there is "real fear in the county." He urged people to take precautions such as going out in groups and calling 911 if their cars break down and they are stuck on the side of the road.
Abby Tyler, 15, died of gunshot injuries after being shot in her at her family's small furniture and appliance store in Gaffney, S.C. Thursday. The girl's father, Stephen Tyler, 45, was also shot and killed Thursday at Tyler Home Center.
The father-daughter deaths come after three others since last Saturday - a peach farmer, an elderly woman and her daughter. Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton believe all five deaths are connected.
"We're concerned," Blanton told reporters Friday. "We're dealing with a man that's killed four people."
The suspect is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, with blue eyes. Blanton classified him as a serial killer.
Investigators, however, say it's still unclear whether or not the suspect and the victims knew each other, or whether the killer is familiar with the area. The murders all happened within 10 miles of each other in Cherokee, a county of 54,000 people about 50 miles south on Interstate 85 from Charlotte, N.C.
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 also appeared to have been robbed.
Thursday 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 sheriff said evidence makes it obvious that Cash's killing is linked to the deaths of the women, but refused to give any other details.
"This person is gonna be somebody that not a lot of people pay attention to or give a second look to," said Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, whose department has joined the investigation. "Obviously, he's either really good or really lucky."
Every available police officer will work the holiday weekend, Blanton said, acknowledging there is "real fear in the county." He urged people to take precautions such as going out in groups and calling 911 if their cars break down and they are stuck on the side of the road.
