Community seeks answers after elderly couple found dead in home
By Kimberly King
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SALUDA, North Carolina (WLOS) — A neighbor worried that a killer may still be on the loose is calling on Polk County authorities to update residents on the investigation into a double homicide that occurred last weekend.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced via social media Thursday that an 80-year-old couple was identified as the two victims of a homicide in Saluda. Authorities confirmed their identities as Robert and Wendy Peck, whose home on West Fork Creek Road burned Sunday. Investigators have still not released a cause of death.
News 13 spoke with a neighbor who called 911 after spotting the fire. She agreed to speak only on the condition that she remain anonymous.
“I saw the fire. I rushed down to get to my house, and we got a signal when we got into the driveway, and she called 911,” the neighbor said.
The neighbor said a friend of hers made the emergency call. The next morning, after learning that Robert and Wendy Peck had died, that neighbor talked with a detective.
“He asked me if I had seen anybody on the property. I said, ‘No,'” the neighbor said.
Days after the fire, News 13 spotted a deputy parked in the driveway of the deceased couple’s home in Saluda. Detectives continue to investigate, while Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright urges residents to remain vigilant.
“I’m terrified. And I know my neighbors are, too,” the anonymous neighbor said. “We want to know that they have a suspect, and knowing that they don’t have any suspects is very unnerving.” Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright did not return News 13’s request for an interview.
“It’s a huge loss for this community. They were very involved,” said Melissa Gillespie, co-owner of Wakey Monkey Coffee Shop.
Melissa and Eric Gillespie knew the Pecks. The couple, they said, were regular customers of their coffee shop, and Wendy had visited the day before her death.
“Wendy had been in Friday morning as well as Saturday morning,” Melissa Gillespie added.
The Pecks were known for their service to the community. “They volunteered at our local elementary school in the after-school program,” Gillespie said. They started a community free meal program and were very devoted to community service work with their church. Eric Gillespie struggled to understand why anyone would want to harm them.
“I don’t know why anyone could even say a bad word about them, much less do anything to them,” he said.
As investigators continue to search for answers, the Gillespies are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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