UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said Sunday that investigators have followed up several leads in the murders of three people near Marshville, but are no closer to naming a suspect.
“We don't' have anything concrete,” said Cathey. “We don't have anything close to making an arrest here. We're still gathering evidence and we'll probably be here probably until tomorrow.”
Neighbors found Crystal Dawn Hicks, 38, dead near the woods behind her boyfriend’s house on Landsford Road Saturday morning. Her boyfriend, Ronnie Overcash, 46, and his neighbor, Jerry Marsh, 61, were found dead inside the house.
Detectives have not released a cause of death for any of the victims, but they have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Charlotte for autopsies.
Relatives told NewsChannel 36 Sunday that Hicks leaves behind two children: a teenage son and an 11-year-old daughter.
Investigators spent a second full day at the crime scene, where yellow police tape surrounds three yards. Cathey told NewsChannel 36’s news partner, the Charlotte Observer, the killer is likely someone the victims knew.
“We are taking our time,” said Sheriff Cathey. “It's very serious to us and the community. We want to be sure to cover everything that could help is in this case, and we're doing that now.”
Detectives interviewed one person who was found driving Marsh’s truck, which was missing from his home Saturday. They released the person Saturday night without charging him.
But for a second day, the crime on Landsford Road is what everyone is talking about in Marshville, a town known as the hometown of country singer Randy Travis, and for its quiet living.
“It’s a hometown, country town, everybody knows everybody,” said Tonya Jackson, as she loaded her groceries into the back of her SUV outside the Food Lion. “It's shocking.. you wouldn't expect it down here,” she said.
Derik Hammond wondered who would do such a thing. “Nothing like that has ever happened in this town!” he said with surprise. “Nothing like that has ever happened here.”
Investigators said Sunday they’ll be back at the home with the SBI to continue their work.
Anyone with information about the crimes should call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 704-283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.
