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SEARCH FOR KILLER GOES ON

2009-07-01 / Front Page

Police theorize the slaying was random act of robbery, violence
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Police are looking for the person whose image appears in this wanted poster and who was driving a vehicle similar to the one shown here. Police are looking for the person whose image appears in this wanted poster and who was driving a vehicle similar to the one shown here. Police investigators are continuing their hunt for the murderer who gunned down a prominent local peach grower inside a Cowpens home Saturday.

Kline Cash, 63, owner of Cash Farms, was found shot to death several hours after an unknown man dropped by his Battleground Road home to reportedly purchase hay.

Chief Deputy Joel Hill of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said it's believed Cash was killed during a robbery.

"All of the information we've gained so far, (we believe) it's a random act," he said.

While official comment on many aspects of the investigation are being withheld at this point, Hill released one additional detail about the suspect Tuesday that investigators hope might lead to an identity and capture — that the suspect has the distinctive feature of large, medium-blue eyes.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, in a wanted poster released to media outlets Monday, described the suspect as a white male with salt and pepper hair. He is approximately 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs an estimated 250 pounds. The suspect had a 3- or 4- day-old beard at the time of the murder.

The suspect was driving a 1991 to 1994 model Ford Explorer Sport, 2-door, sport utility vehicle. The vehicle had faded grey or champagne-colored paint.

Investigators are casting a very wide net in their search for the possible killer, distributing the wanted poster to media outlets across South Carolina and North Carolina.

Additionally, a $2,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Numerous police agencies are involved in the investigation, among them the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Hill confirmed there were at least six detectives and three crime scene specialists from the two sheriff's offices involved.

One of Cash's sons is a Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy. The crime scene was a very short distance away from the Spartanburg County line.

Some items were taken from Cash's home during the incident but police aren't releasing any details at this time. They also aren't commenting about how Cash was shot, or providing any details about their working theories.

Hill said several tips have come in and all are being followed up on.

"We're still asking that anybody who might have been in the area at the time, or who saw something suspicious, give a call to Crimestoppers," he said.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information call the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at (864) 489-4722; Crimestoppers at (864) 489-2746; or Spartanburg Crimestoppers at 864- 58CRIME.

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