On October 3, 2021, neighbors in Mullins, South Carolina, called authorities after hearing gunshots. Responding officers found John Michael Thompkins, 48, and his wife, Cathy Diane Thompkins, dead in their home; both had been fatally shot along with the couple’s dog. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office ruled the scene a double homicide and sent both bodies to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for autopsies to confirm cause of death.

John was described as a skilled carpenter who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He is survived by his mother, Victoria Little, a daughter, Cheyenne Thompkins, and a sister, Michelle Nichols. Investigators have not publicly identified any suspects, and the motive remains unknown.

If anyone in the Mullins area heard or saw anything on October 3, 2021, that could help, please share what you know with the Sheriff’s Office.