SC serial killer conjures memory of 60s murderer
GAFFNEY, S.C. — A terrified rural South Carolina community hunkered down over the Fourth of July after the sheriff said a serial killer was on the loose, and longtime residents were reminded of a murderer who terrorized the town in the 1960s.
Memories of the “Gaffney Strangler” were reignited this week after authorities said a new serial killer gunned down four people during three separate incidents over several days. Authorities have released a sketch of the accused killer and a description of the sport utility vehicle he may be driving, but they have been silent about exactly what has linked the slayings.
The town of Gaffney, about 50 miles south of Charlotte, N.C., is located in a county that had just six homicides in all of 2008, and half that the year before. The last time the town was this threatened like this was when the “Gaffney Strangler” killed four women over 10 days in 1968 and vowed to kill more. The town banded together, despite racial prejudice, to find the man who was killing both white and black women.
The strangler, Lee Roy Martin, called the editor of a local newspaper on Feb. 8, 1968, and told him where to find the bodies of two women he’d dumped in the woods. He threatened to kill even more women until he was “shot down like the dog I am.”
People started to comb the community for clues, which led to Martin’s arrest. He was convicted of four murders and sentenced to four life terms. In 1972, he was stabbed to death in his cell.
The latest killings have residents on edge, with “their guard up and their gun handy,” said state Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney.
“There is no greater fear than the fear of the unknown and nobody knows. You can cut the tension with a knife,” Peeler said. “People are locking their doors, even in broad daylight.”
Tanya Phillips had been looking forward to a backyard barbecue at her brother’s house but instead planned to stay home with her doors locked.
“I’m not taking any chances,” said Phillips, 32, a mother of two who works in a day-care center. “I’ll go out during the day, but not at night. I just don’t feel safe.”
Every available police officer will work the weekend, Cherokee County Sheriff Bill 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.
The latest victims were found in their family’s small furniture and appliance shop near downtown Gaffney around closing time Thursday. Stephen Tyler, 45, was killed, and his 15-year-old daughter was shot and seriously injured. Family members and a store employee found them in the Tyler Home Center.
A day earlier and about seven miles away, 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 Home Center, where peach farmer Kline Cash, 63, was found shot in his living room. Blanton said the killer may have first spoken with Cash’s wife about buying hay. She left and came home a few hours later to find her husband’s body. Investigators said it appears he was robbed, but they have not determined if anything was taken in the other killings.
Hazel Smith, 47, said neighbors feel vulnerable.
“If he killed once, he’ll kill again,” she said sitting on the front porch with her friends. “Tonight, I’m going to stay inside and pray, pray a little harder that he gets caught.”
The latest shootings happened less than a half-mile from the sheriff’s office, where at least 30 investigators were already working on the case. Blanton said a profiler has suggested Tyler and his daughter might have been shot to taunt investigators, but he said his only concern is solving the case.
“We had a 15-year-old girl shot; he killed an 83-year-old woman,” Blanton said. “The good people of this community don’t deserve that.”
Associated Press writers Jim Davenport and Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report from Columbia.
Related News
NC investigates why slain man suspected of becoming SC serial killer was released from jailJuly 14th, 2009 NC probes why suspected SC serial killer was freedCHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina parole officer overloaded with cases should not be blamed for failing to tell jail officers to keep behind bars a career criminal who later killed five people, authorities said Tuesday.
SC serial killing suspect slain in NC was felon with lengthy record who was paroled in AprilJuly 7th, 2009 Cops: Serial killer suspect slain in NC was felonGAFFNEY, S.C. — South Carolina law enforcement officials have identified the serial killing suspect slain in North Carolina as a felon with a lengthy record who was paroled in April after seven years in prison.
SC serial killing suspect slain in NC had lengthy criminal record, was paroled in AprilJuly 7th, 2009 Slain SC serial killing suspect had long rap sheetGAFFNEY, S.C. — The serial killer who terrorized a South Carolina community by shooting five people to death before police killed him Monday was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said.
Police: 2 people with suspected SC serial killer didn't know about shooting spreeJuly 7th, 2009 2 people with SC killer didn't know of deathsGAFFNEY, S.C. — The two people with the suspected South Carolina serial killer when he was shot to death by police were siblings who met him two weeks ago and didn't know about his killing spree, police said Tuesday.
Crime And Punishment: South Carolina Serial Killer Shot Dead July 7th, 2009 It's the classic case of divine justice finally catching up with the criminal; and of crime paying the price of it's heinous monstrosity. South Carolina's notorious serial killer of late, finally had the law catch up with him, when he was killed after being shot by the police investigating a burglary call.
Witnesses: Man matching SC serial killer description shot to death in NC; police can't confirmJuly 7th, 2009 SC cops check serial killer link to slain NC manGASTONIA, N.C. — A man matching the description of a suspected serial killer was shot to death by North Carolina police early Monday, witnesses said, and South Carolina authorities were on the scene investigating.
SC law enforcement identifies man slain in NC burglary who was wanted in SC serial killingsJuly 7th, 2009 SC cops ID serial killer suspect slain in NCGAFFNEY, S.C. — Law enforcement officials have identified the man they think is the serial killer who shot five people to death in South Carolina in recent days.
SC law enforcement official: Burglary suspect slain in NC is man wanted in SC serial killingsJuly 7th, 2009 SC cops say serial killer suspect slain in NCGAFFNEY, S.C. — A man suspected of killing five people and terrorizing a South Carolina community was shot to death Monday by police investigating a burglary complaint at a home 30 miles away.
SC sheriff says deputies searching for suspected serial killer after 5 deaths in 1 weekJuly 6th, 2009 SC sheriff: Deputies searching for killer of 5GAFFNEY, S.C. — A South Carolina sheriff says deputies are searching to find the man they believe has killed five people in a week.
SC police on scene of fatal NC shooting some 30 miles from serial killingsJuly 6th, 2009 SC police at NC shooting near serial killingsGASTONIA, N.C. — South Carolina authorities are on the scene of a fatal North Carolina shooting Monday, about 30 miles from a city terrorized by a serial killer blamed for five deaths.
Funerals held for SC mother and daughter who were victims of suspected serial killerJuly 6th, 2009 Hundreds at funerals for 2 victims of SC killingsGAFFNEY, S.C. — Hundreds of mourners thronged Sunday's funeral services for an elderly mother and her daughter, two of five victims of a suspected serial killer whose crime spree has terrorized this rural South Carolina community for more than a week.
Coroner: Teenage girl shot in father's store becomes 5th slain by suspected SC serial killerJuly 4th, 2009 Coroner: Teen 5th killed by apparent serial killerGAFFNEY, S.C. — A teenage girl shot while helping her father in their family's small furniture and appliance store died Saturday, becoming the fifth victim of a suspected serial killer terrorizing a small South Carolina community, authorities said.
Sheriff says shooting deaths of peach farmer, 2 women in northern SC linked to same killerJuly 3rd, 2009 Sheriff: Same person has killed 3 in northern SCGAFFNEY, S.C. — A sheriff says the shooting deaths of a peach farmer and two women in a rural South Carolina county the past week have been linked to the same killer.
Terrified SC residents hole up, cancel Fourth of July plans as authorities hunt serial killerJuly 3rd, 2009 Serial killer has South Carolina residents on edgeGAFFNEY, S.C. — A terrified rural South Carolina community hunkered down over the Fourth of July after the sheriff said a serial killer was on the loose, and longtime residents were reminded of a murderer who terrorized the town in the 1960s.
SC authorities search for serial killer they believe is responsible for 4 deaths in 6 daysJuly 3rd, 2009 SC serial killer blamed for 4 deaths in 6 daysGAFFNEY, S.C. — 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.
Loading ...