York County Christmas home invasion victim dies, identified; now a murder case
One of the elderly victims injured in a York County Christmas Day home invasion has died and now, deputies and the FBI are offering a $20,000 reward in the murder investigation.
Sarah Childers, 72, died Saturday, said York County Coroner Sabrina Gast. Childers death is being investigated as a homicide, said Gast and York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson.
On Christmas, Childers and her husband, 75, were beaten and tied up in their Hickory Grove home by three armed suspects, Tolson said. The suspects, who deputies are still working to identify, stole items worth thousands of dollars.
Childers was hospitalized shortly after the attack, said Trent Faris, spokesperson for the York County Sheriff’s Office. The name of the woman who died has not yet been released by the York County Coroner’s Office.
Suspects lured the victims
Both elderly victims were assaulted and kidnapped during the burglary and armed robbery, Tolson said.
During the attack, a female suspect knocked on the couple’s door, claiming she had car trouble, Tolson said. The male victim, who had opened the door, offered to help. Then, the couple was attacked by two male suspects waiting outside with guns, Tolson said. The suspects stole the couple’s car before fleeing.
The FBI has been working with York County investigators since the attack took place. The FBI increased its reward Saturday to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the three individuals involved, according to federal agents and sheriff officials.
The FBI is part of a violent crime task force that involves sheriff detectives. Don Wood, spokesperson for the FBI in South Carolina, said federal agents are working the case with sheriff deputies.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-280-6246, or the FBI at 803-551-4200.
2nd elderly victim to die in a home invasion
The woman’s death on Saturday marks the second elderly victim to die in a home invasion over the holidays.
An 82-year-old Rock Hill man, William Mason, died Friday after he was beaten during a break-in at his Ferndale Drive home. Mason was found on New Year’s Day inside his home after the attack, said Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department.
The Rock Hill home invasion also is unsolved, police said.
Police have not said whether the two home invasions are connected. Police are sharing case information between the sheriff’s office, Rock Hill police, and FBI, officials said.
This story was originally published January 17, 2021 at 11:10 AM with the headline "York County Christmas home invasion victim dies, identified; now a murder case."