Police: Suicide ruled out in Newton Co. double murder

Investigators have ruled out suicide, but they're still trying to determine a motive in the shooting death of an elderly woman and her nephew who were found inside of their Newton County home Tuesday.

Investigators circled the perimeter of the home early Wednesday, looking through bushes for potential evidence in the unsolved double murder, Channel 2's Tom Regan reported from the scene.  Investigators say it is still unclear why someone would kill 66-year-old Peggy Molden and her 56-year-old paralyzed nephew, who relatives said she cared for.

So far the investigation has revealed that there was no sign of forced entry into the home, but some of items were missing, said Regan.

Police said a call from a medical alert device brought them to the home and that's when investigators said they found the victims dead inside of the Covington residence on Temple Lane.

"They took a grandmother, a mother, an aunt, a friend away," Tammy Cox said about her mother.

"She was the nurturer. She was sweet, very sweet," Cox said.

Cox said her mother was acting as a caretaker for McCollough. She said McCollough was paralyzed and in a wheelchair, and both he and Molden wore medical alert devices. Investigators said a call from one of those devices came in at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"They were able to look inside and see a person down. They gained entry, went in to check, discovered the person was dead and had a gunshot wound," Lt. Keith Crum with the Newton County Sheriff's Office said.

News Chopper 2 flew over the house Tuesday afternoon as investigators from the GBI and the Newton County Sheriff's Office searched for evidence after finding the second victim.

Crum said it's unclear who activated the alarm or how it happened.

"We don't think this was a murder-suicide. This appears to be two homicides," Crum said.

"They took my best friend away from me," Cox said.

Cox wants to know who would do this and why.

"Just knowing that she was in that situation, and we weren't there to help her," Cox said.

Investigators asking anyone with information to contact the Newton County Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1400.