2 women found dead near where farmer was killed last week

Officials are investigating the shooting deaths of two women not far from where a prominent South Carolina peach farmer was killed last week. Multiple media outlets reported the women were found Wednesday at a Cherokee County home.

Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victims as 83-year-old Hazel Keaton Linder of Gaffney and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Linder Parker of Anderson. Sheriff Bill Blanton would not say if the deaths were linked to that of 63-year-old Kline Cash, a peach farmer found shot to death at his home June 27.

State Law Enforcement Division agents and Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies helping investigate Cash’s death responded to Wednesday’s shooting. Blanton says a witness told investigators a blue van was in the driveway about 40 minutes before the bodies were found.