WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Coroner: Teen fifth killed by apparent Gaffney serial killer

Coroner: Teen fifth killed by apparent Gaffney serial killer

GAFFNEY, SC (WBTV) - Authorities say a teenage girl shot in her father's store has become the fifth person slain by a suspected serial killer.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler says 15-year-old Abby Tyler died at a Spartanburg hospital Saturday morning. Her death came two days after she was wounded and her father was killed Thursday at their family's furniture and appliance shop near downtown Gaffney.

Sheriff Bill Blanton says investigators believe the killings are linked and the search is on for a suspected serial killer. An 83-year-old mother and her daughter were shot to death on Wednesday, and a 63-year-old peach farmer was found dead a week ago.

Blanton says all the victims were shot but would not say how the deaths were linked.

All the killings happened in Cherokee County, in a close 10-mile area.

"Under the FBI definition, yes, we have a serial killer," said Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton at a Friday morning news conference, just hours after a man was shot closing a store near downtown Gaffney.

On Thursday night, 48-year-old Stephen Tyler was shot to death at his furniture store in Gaffney around closing time. His 15-year-old daughter was shot, and later died.

The community seems to be on edge as the local newspaper published a large headline of "Terrorized" on Friday morning.

"Our community has a right to be concerned," Blanton saida the news conference. "We are dealing with a man who has shot a teenage girl and an 80 year old woman. The good people in this community don't deserve that. It doesn't seem like he shows much remorse. We need to be vigilant in our safety."

On the fourth of July the community would be all about patriotism and peaches, but Saturday a dark cloud shadowed the celebrations, and the talk on the sidewalks and in the coffee shops was chilling.

"I was in the coffee shop this morning," said Brian Ziegelheafer of Gaffney who overheard a conversation between two people in line in front of him. "She asked him what he was doing for the fourth and he said he was sitting at home with his gun and hoping this guy shows up at his house."

There is a command post at the sheriff's office. Investigators from across the country are helping with the case. They've produced a new poster with a sketch of the serial killer and a picture of a Ford Explorer similar to the one they think he's driving.

They want to find him before he kills again,  and to calm the fears that grip Cherokee County.

The effect on the community has been dramatic.  

In some cases stores are selling out of ammunition, door to door salespeople are told not to make sales calls and even friends are urged not to make unannounced visits on other friends.

Victims are being remembered in church services and praye offered both for the families and for investigators.

They hoped Abby Tyler would pull through, but her death Saturday has increased the sense of fear.

Ziegelheafer was working right next door to the Tylers in his business when the father and daughter were shot on Thursday.

"It's extremely out of character and it's scary, especially when it happens as close as next door."

Police say the man might be driving a tan 1991-1994 Ford Explorer two-door SUV.

Authorities said that the man had been targeting women in the killings, but backed off that Friday.

"If I say yes (he is targeting women), he may change" his pattern, Blanton said.

Blanton said that it is likely that the man has changed his appearance since a flyer was released.

"I am sure there is fear in our community," Blanton said. "I would be foolish to say there is not."

Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victims from earlier this week as 83-year-old Hazel Keaton Linder of Gaffney and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Linder Parker of Anderson.

A peach farmer in the area, 63-year-old Kline Cash, was gunned down at his home June 27. The bodies of Keaton and Parker were discovered Wednesday at a Cherokee County home.

The county of 54,000 people had six homicides in 2008. Blanton said that he was concerned that residents might be on edge.

"We are concerned that people might start to shoot at shadows," Blanton said.

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