A South Carolina man wanted for allegedly killing his estranged wife and her friend during an argument was found dead on Sunday, officials confirmed. Christopher Minor, 50, was discovered deceased at Baker Creek State Park in McCormick County with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by the Mauldin Police Department. Park Rangers located his body near Lake Thurmond after finding his vehicle unoccupied.
The tragic incident unfolded when Minor was suspected of fatally shooting Mariellen Bessent Minor, 41, and her friend Kim Melissa Thrift, 52, on Saturday evening. The women had arrived at the Arbors at Brookfield Apartments to pick up the children they shared with Minor. An argument escalated, leading to Christopher Minor allegedly shooting and killing both victims.
Kim Melissa Thrift had accompanied Mariellen Minor for safety reasons, according to officials. Mauldin Police chief George Miller disclosed that Mariellen Minor was found with multiple gunshot wounds beside a vehicle, while Thrift was discovered inside the vehicle they arrived in.
The shooting took place in front of witnesses, including children, although it remains unclear if the Minor children witnessed the tragic event. Following the incident, police issued a 'be on the lookout' warning for Christopher Minor, who was last seen driving a white Cadillac.
Christopher Minor was facing charges of two counts of murder and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent act. Authorities revealed that a brother-in-law had encouraged Mariellen Minor to report her alleged domestic abuse to the authorities.
Chief Miller emphasized the importance of reporting domestic violence, urging victims to seek help. He stated, 'If you're a victim of domestic violence, I'm begging you to report it so that we can assist you and try to prevent such tragedies from occurring.'
