SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities are investigating the killings of a mother and daughter who were found shot outside their home in Sumter County’s Shiloh community.
Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker identified the women as Lola Hurt, 55, and her daughter, Melony Johnson, 41. Their bodies were discovered on Wednesday, September 2, in separate areas of the yard of a home on Puddin Swamp Road near Lynchburg.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is treating both deaths as homicides. Officials said Hurt and Johnson suffered apparent gunshot wounds, although final findings were expected to come from autopsies scheduled for Tuesday, September 8.
Investigators believe the shooting may have occurred sometime between Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30—several days before the women were found. Authorities have not disclosed what led them to that estimated timeline.
A South Carolina community is in shock after a mother and daughter were found dead in Sumter County earlier this week.
— Rose (@901Lulu) September 6, 2026
Lola Hurt (55) and her daughter, Melony Johnson (41), were found with fatal gunshot wounds on Pudding Swamp Road in Lynchburg after a concerned friend stopped… pic.twitter.com/ZuHQsTOCEn
What investigators have revealed
Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner said investigators have reason to believe Hurt and Johnson knew the person or people responsible for their deaths. The absence of obvious forced entry is among the details being examined as detectives work to establish what happened.
However, authorities have not identified any suspect publicly, explained a possible motive or said how many people may have been involved. “People of interest” is an investigative term and does not mean those individuals have been charged or formally accused of a crime.
The sheriff’s office described the shooting as an isolated incident and said investigators do not believe there is a wider threat to the public.
According to WACH’s initial report, the women were found in different parts of the property’s yard. The home is in the Shiloh community, roughly 1.5 miles from the Clarendon County line.
The discovery shocked residents of the close-knit rural community. One neighbor told local reporters that the arrival of emergency vehicles was deeply surprising because residents in the area generally know one another.
No arrest announced as investigation continues
Detectives are continuing to collect evidence, examine the property and speak with people who may have information about the women’s final days. Authorities have not said whether a weapon was recovered or whether surveillance footage, phone records or other digital evidence form part of the investigation.
The case remains active, and several important questions are unanswered, including why Hurt and Johnson were targeted, the precise time of their deaths and who was responsible.
Anyone with relevant information can contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office through its anonymous tip service. The agency’s non-emergency number is 803-436-2774. Anyone reporting an immediate emergency should call 911.
This report will be updated if authorities release autopsy findings, announce an arrest or disclose additional information. Follow our latest news coverage for further developments.
Sources: Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Coroner’s Office and local reporting from WACH and WLTX.
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