Possible Murder-Suicide: Names of Victims Released

According to the Pickens County Sheriff’s office at approximately 6:00 pm on July 11th, the 911 center in Pickens County received a call from a home inside the gated community of Big Canoe stating that 2 individuals had been found with gunshot wounds. Deputies and emergency responders arrived and the home and confirmed that the two individuals were deceased. A neighbor told detectives that she had stopped by the residence to visit and discovered the scene.

Detectives from the Pickens Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating and the GBI Crime Scene Unit has been requested to assist in with processing the scene. Preliminary investigation at this point leads detectives to believe that this was a murder – suicide.

FYN has now learned that the incident decribed above was an apparent result of domestic issues between Ross and Sharon Jernigan. A press release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s department states that

“Mr. Jernigan was in the process of moving out of the residence.”

The release goes on to state that preliminary autopsy reports make it look as if both individuals died from a single gunshot wound and that the investigation indicates that Mr. Jernigan’s wound was self-inflicted.

FYN will update this story once more information becomes available.