SC SC - Wanda Evans, 36, & Paul Coates, Florence County, 5 August 2000

When the case took place nearly 14 years ago, Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken, was in forensics and arrived on the scene of a double homicide that would haunt him to this day.

"The amount of... I guess you would say violence, that was involved in this case... (was highly unusual)," Von Lutcken said. Investigators discovered Evans, stabbed in her home and left to die near her three young children. They'd later also discover her common-law husband, Coates, dead from gunshot wounds, under a bridge near the river.

Click to expand...

Although investigators determiend Coates died before Evans, Evans’ body was found first by their daughter, who was 8 at the time, in the bathroom of the family’s home at 1701½ Carter Corner Road. Evans’ throat was slit and she had been stabbed several times. Her daughter and then-5-year-old twin sons were asleep in a nearby bedroom.

Florence County sheriff’s investigators initially sought Coates for questioning in connection with Evans’ death, but those plans quickly changed when Coates’ body was found some three miles away from the residence under a small bridge off of Paper Mill Bridge Road. He had been shot more than once...

Although no clear motive has been established in the case, Kirby said investigators believe the killer or killers knew the couple. “There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry, so we’re pretty sure Paul and Wanda willingly let this person or persons in the house,” Kirby said.

Click to expand...

“There are so many rumors going around and you have to check into them, and as you’re going in different directions I guess you could say while you’re running down rumors and running down folks you know tied in with those rumors, the trail can actually be getting cold,” said Lutcken.

Authorities say the suspect may have driven away in a black full-sized pick-up truck, and they know little else.

Click to expand...