2 women's bodies found in South Carolina clearing, homicide investigation underway

A homicide investigation is underway in South Carolina after two women's bodies were found in a rural area in Sumter County, about 40 miles east of Columbia, police said.

A landowner found the bodies in a cleared area on his land, Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said at a news conference on Tuesday. The women appeared to have been killed elsewhere before their bodies were deliberately placed in the clearing, Dennis said.

The victims were identified as Kristen Grissom, 38, and Christine Marie McAbee, 35, Dennis said. An autopsy found that McAbee died from a gunshot wound, Sumter County coroner Robert M. Baker Jr. said Tuesday. An autopsy for Grissom was ongoing at the time of the news conference, Baker said.

Kristen Grissom (left) and Christine Marie McAbee (right). Sumter County