May 17, 2012

Serial killer may be dead

Cherokee County police have been on the lookout for a suspect linked to five different killings last week in Gaffney. Now, a shoot-out in North Carolina may give the town of Gaffney a sigh of relief after the suspect’s vehicle in that shooting matches the description of the serial killer’s SUV. The suspect involved in Monday’s shooting was shot dead at the scene.

South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons says that agents traveled to Gastonia, North Carolina after a fatal shootout. Police shot a man suspected of trying to break in a home in Gastonia. Timmons could not yet confirm if the shooting is linked to the recent shootings in Gaffney.

Police in Gastonia say before they shot the suspect, the man first gave a fake name, and then he opened fire.

The SUV was an early 90′s champagne-colored Ford, the same make and model the Gaffney serial killer was believed to be driving.

Police are still on scene investigating to find out if the man is indeed the wanted South Carolina serial killer.

Gov. Sanford back at work

Governor Mark Sanford returned to work after spending the Fourth of July weekend in Florida.

Governor Mark SanfordSanford spent the weekend with his wife, Jenny, and their four sons at his in-laws in Florida. The governor has had time away from office after he announced his extramarital affair to a woman from Argentina.

After many calls for the governor’s resignation, Sanford is back at work. He attended a briefing on port security along side Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Senator Lindsey Graham in North Charleston. The briefing included discussion on Project Seahawk, a task force to protect the nation’s ports. The governor did not meet with reporters after the briefing.

In a statement last week, Jenny Sanford said: “My forgiveness is essential for us both to move on with our lives, with peace, in whatever direction that may take us.” Now that the Sanford’s are back in Columbia, living arrangements at the Governor’s Mansion were not discussed.

Sen. Graham supports bill to reform healthcare

As many Americans struggle to find an affordable healthcare plan, the Wyden-Bennet Bill is a new bi-partisan effort that creates universal coverage under private healthcare plans for the United States. U.S. Lindsey Graham is a supporter of the bill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham“The two things that I am for is covering every American to make sure you’re in a healthcare plan, instead of running to the emergency room when you get sick, you have a physician home that can better treat you more preventive medicine, and that you buy your healthcare in a private sector through competition. Some people may want a health savings account, other people will want a different plan. For a single person you would buy Policy A, for a person with four kids you’d buy Policy B, that’s what I hope to have happen,” says Graham.

Graham recognizes that people that may not be able to afford these private insurance plans made through the state’s pool, but that’s why he backs voucher programs to help get these people the coverage they need. [Read more...]

New memorial park honors war heroes

As the Lowcountry celebrated Independence Day over the weekend, the town of Mt. Pleasant honored those who fought for freedom with a new memorial.

Memorial Waterfront Park More than 500 people attended a new war memorial dedication underneath the Mt. Pleasant side of the Ravenel Bridge at the Memorial Waterfront Park on the Cooper River. The two-hour ceremony near Patriot’s Point, which holds World War II vessels, included two Medal of Honor recipient speakers, and highlighted the unveiling of a sculpture near the walls with the names of 74 men from Mt. Pleasant who died in battle.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports a C-17 flew overhead to get the show under way, with the shooting of a cannon and rifle ending the show. The $14 million park includes a 1,200-foot pier and a playground. Former Mayor Harry Hallman, who resigned while battling Alzheimer’s disease, was present and was pleased with the town’s new park.

*Photo from Town of Mt. Pleasant

Serial killer search continues, community mourns

sketch of serial killer            (Cherokee Co. sheriff's dept.)An Upstate serial killer is still on the loose in Gaffney. In an ABC Good Morning America interview, Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton said they are working hard on tracking down the suspect, but right now, they don’t have many leads.

“The magnitude of this thing, we’re trying to stay focused on catching the person and then after he’s arrested then we can release a lot more details,” says Blanton.

Blanton says the suspect is up to five killings in the area, and the only links to each murder so far, is all of the victims attended area Baptist churches. Although Blanton says some evidence leads them to know the killer is the same in all five killings, the motive is still unknown.

“There’s some theories on motive, but other than that, it’s speculation at this point. We don’t have any concrete evidence on it,” says Blanton.

Over the weekend, hundreds of people attended the funerals of two of the victims. Last week, 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Parker were shot by the suspect. Blanton says the community is worried, but not too frantic.

“It’s kind of tore our community up, but folks here are dealing with it. Dealing with it well,” says Blanton.

The suspect is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall with salt-and-pepper hair.