Larry and Sandra Moore were discovered Thursday night after a relative requested a welfare check, authorities said.
WESTMINSTER, SC — A husband and wife in their 70s were found dead inside their rural Oconee County home Thursday night, and investigators are treating the case as a double homicide, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies responded around 9:05 p.m. to the residence on Cromer Moore Drive, near Longcreek Highway, after a family member reported being unable to reach Larry Moore, 76, and Sandra Moore, 75.
The killings have shaken the small Westminster community, where the Moores were longtime fixtures known for running the former Moore & Moore Fish Camp and for deep involvement at Calvary Church, according to friends and church leaders. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said early findings point to an isolated incident and that there is no broader threat to the public. The county coroner said both victims suffered traumatic injuries. Investigators are still piecing together a timeline from the couple’s last known contact earlier in the week through the discovery Thursday night, and have appealed for nearby residents to share any home-security footage captured between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.
Deputies were called after a relative went to the house for a welfare check and dialed 911 when they could not reach the couple. Responding units secured the scene and notified the Oconee County Coroner’s Office, which later identified the victims as Larry and Sandra Moore. Coroner Karl Addis said autopsies have been scheduled and that, at the request of the sheriff, the exact nature of the injuries is being withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation. “Based on preliminary scene observations, these deaths are being investigated as homicide,” Addis said. The sheriff’s office said investigators believe the incident appears to be targeted and isolated, though they did not publicly discuss a motive and did not announce any arrests by Saturday.
Authorities said the last confirmed contact anyone had with the Moores occurred earlier in the week, before the Thursday night call for help. Detectives canvassed the area around Cromer Moore Drive—just off Longcreek Highway and near Chau Ram Park Road—seeking witnesses who may have noticed unfamiliar vehicles, people on foot, or unusual activity. Officials asked residents with doorbell or exterior cameras to check recordings made from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning in case they captured vehicles entering or leaving the road. The sheriff’s office also directed tipsters to call its main line or submit information through an anonymous service; investigators said a cash reward may be available for tips that lead to an arrest. No suspect information had been released as of the weekend, and investigators did not say whether they recovered weapons at the scene.
The Moores were widely known in the Westminster area. For decades they operated the Moore & Moore Fish Camp, a local staple remembered by former employees and customers as a first job for many teens and a gathering spot for families. The couple retired from the restaurant in 2016, friends said, but remained active in church life. Calvary Church leaders posted condolences and called the couple faithful members. Neighbors described the rural stretch of Cromer Moore Drive as quiet, with homes spread out and traffic typically limited to residents and service workers. Several said they were startled late Thursday by flashing patrol lights and a sudden swell of deputies moving in and out of the area overnight.
Investigators emphasized that the release of case details will be measured while they process evidence and conduct interviews. The coroner said traumatic injuries were the cause of death for both victims but declined to elaborate pending autopsy results and at the sheriff’s request. Detectives are reviewing any potential digital or physical evidence gathered at the residence and from nearby properties, including camera footage and cell phone activity, and are constructing a more precise timeline of the couple’s final movements. Officials said they would provide updates once lab analyses and autopsy findings are available and once investigative leads are confirmed.
As of Saturday, no charges had been filed. The sheriff’s office said its next steps include formal autopsies, ongoing neighborhood canvasses, and continued review of electronic evidence. If warranted, search warrants and additional subpoenas could follow as investigators map connections and test forensic samples. The agency said it would announce any suspect information, arrests, or public safety advisories as soon as those determinations are made. Authorities also noted that, while they believe the case is isolated, they are evaluating whether any earlier calls for service or recent reports in the immediate area could be relevant to understanding the sequence of events in the Moores’ home.
On Friday, mourners placed flowers near the driveway entrance and spoke quietly along the two-lane road that winds through pasture and woodline. “They were the kindest people,” said one former restaurant employee, who recalled the couple’s habit of stopping to greet families table by table. A neighbor who has lived nearby for more than a decade said late-night activity on the road is unusual and that the sudden law enforcement presence “felt out of place,” adding that residents are watching for any official notice on a suspect. Church members said the congregation is planning to support the family in the days ahead.
By late Saturday, investigators continued to work the case with no arrests announced, and officials said they expect autopsy results in the coming days. The sheriff’s office plans to update the public when investigators can share more about the timeline, evidence, and any potential suspect information. The next formal milestone is the return of autopsy findings and related forensic reports, which authorities said will help determine what is released next.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.