Cherokee County Sheriff: “Yes We Have A Serial Killer” After Murder in Gaffney, SC

** Update Friday July 3, 10:45 p.m. **

A new sketch rendered the suspect that is being sought in the four murders that have shook up Cherokee County.

In Cherokee County, another tense and anxious night where the citizens of the county remain in fear where the serial killer may lurk next.

“It sits in your stomach,“ said Brit McBee. “You just worry that someone is gonna pull up in your yard.“

Late Friday night, the new sketch of the suspect, believed to be in his late 40’s, was released. And Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton feels the new sketch will help identify the killer.

“We feel this one is more accurante,“ Blanton said. “More refined.“

As of Friday night, four people are dead and one is clinging to life, as the man deputies call extremely dangerous continues to roam free.

“Under FBI definition, yes we have a serial killer,“ Blanton said.

Heavily armed checkpoints and an army of officers blanketed the county. Residents armed themselves in droves.
 
“Take the safety off, pull the trigger back and pow, pow, pow, and they done,“ said Adam Baumgardner. “They about to get it before they get you.

Investigators said that all four murders this past week were committed by the same man. The victims, Kline Cash was found shot to death last Saturday. This past Wednesday, Hazel Linder and her daughter, Gena Linder Parker were found dead. And on Thursday night, Stephen Tyler was fatally shot and his 15-year old daughter was found shot in the head and sent to the hospital.

“We’re concerned we are dealing with a man whose killed four people, shot a 15 year old and killed a 80 year old woman,“ Blanton said.

So as the search moves into the fourth of July weekend, those who hunt killers will remain on guard.

“We’re running down every lead,“ said Blanton. “We will work through the night and we meet again at 8 in the morning to start all over.“

** Update Friday July 3, 5:30 p.m. **

Gaffney, SC

Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton confirms Thursday night’s murder in Gaffney is linked to other recent murders. He says according to the FBI’s definition the suspect is a serial killer.

Two people were shot and one person is dead after a shooting in Gaffney, SC at Tyler Home Center, at 612 East Frederick St., around 7:30.

The coroner says Stephen Tyler was shot and killed.  A friend says he was the owner of Tyler Home Center.

His 15-year-old daughter Abby Tyler was shot in the head and taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. The sheriff says the 15 year old shooting victim is still alive, but not in any condition to answer questions. Investigators say the business was open, but in the process of closing for the night when the shooting happened. They say the victims were found by an employee.

A chase and suicide on Highway 11, earlier Thursday evening, was not related to the killings, according to the Cherokee Co. Sheriff. » Read Story

Meanwhile, around the county near the other homicides, people have been vigilant and on the watch for anything suspicious. He says citizens should be vigilant and cautious, but not to “shoot at shadows”. He is not recommending people stay in their homes and not enjoy the July 4th Holiday. He says “This man is not going to put me in a prison.“

Local and federal law enforcement descended on the county in huge numbers to find out who is committing these murders.

The Cherokee County Sheriff says they have a tremendous amount of physical evidence that positively proved a homicide Sunday night and two homicides Wednesday night were committed by the same man.

Blanton says the suspect is dangerous and unpredictable and could be a danger even to his friends.  He says the reason they are not releasing details on physical evidence is so if they receive false confessions they can rule those people out.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office found two victims dead inside a house on 114 Buck Shoals Road at Highway 11, between Chesnee and Gaffney.

A mother and daughter were found bound and shot at a home just after 3 pm Wednesday.

Coroner Dennis Fowler confirms the victims are 83 year old Hazel Linder and 50 year old Gena Linder Parker.

Anderson County School District 5 Superintendent Betty Bagley confirms to News Channel 7 that Gena Linder Parker was a teacher at Calhoun Academy of Arts.
Visit Gena Linder Parker’s Memorial Page
Read more about the victims in Amy Wood’s blog .

Parker’s husband, Scott, is the former head football coach at North Greenville College and T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson and currently is an assistant principal at Ninety-Six High School and an assistant football coach at Newberry College.

Funeral services for both Hazel Linder and Gena Linder Parker will be held at 4 pm Sunday at First Baptist Church of Gaffney. Visitation is from 2-4 also at the church.

A sign with “Hay For Sale” was displayed outside the residence, just a few miles away from where a similar murder occurred Saturday. Local farmer, Kline Cash, was found dead at his home after a man wanting to buy some hay came to his house earlier in the day. Read Story

The Cherokee County Sheriff says a tremendous task force has been assembled including:
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office
Gaffney Police Department
Blacksburg Police Department
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Union County Sheriff’s Office
SLED
FBI

Investigators say they want people to be vigilant and cautious and to send them tips on suspicious activity no matter how minor or trivial.

Call CRIMESTOPPERS at (864) 489-2746

Restoration Church International is holding a prayer meeting for the community.  Friday night at 7:00 p.m.  It will be held off Exit 95 in the Old Lowes Building

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