An elderly North Augusta man killed his girlfriend in his home on Walnut Court on Thursday morning before killing himself, authorities said.
The coroner’s office confirms that the case is a murder-suicide that led to the deaths of 67-year-old Kathy Hydrick and her boyfriend, 71-year-old Keith Jones. Jones was an apparent ex-Marine whose mother died one year ago.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office was called to Walnut Court shortly before 10 a.m. for a report of a shooting. Sheriff’s Maj. Jason Griffin said a woman called to say the man inside the house had told her he shot someone. When officers arrived, they found two people dead.
Coroner Darryl Ables said his office was called to the home about 11:13 a.m. Thursday. He said Jones, the homeowner, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and Hydrick, his girlfriend, was found in the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the body. Both were pronounced deceased at 12:05 p.m. Thursday.
Hydrick will be autopsied Friday in Newberry while no autopsy is scheduled for Jones. The Coroner’s Office along with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office are continuing with the investigation.
Hydrick was remembered online as a loving grandmother. Jennifer Hobday Steele said, “So sorry you died this way Kathy. She was a loving caring grandmother and didn’t deserve this!!!”
Meanwhile, it appears Keith Jones was living in his mother’s previous residence, since 3 Walnut Court is registered in the county with Joyce Jones. An obituary says the 96-year-old woman died on April 11, 2024, and Keith Jones was listed as her surviving son along with a surviving daughter.
Note: If you have a photo or memory of Kathy to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.
