In a tragic turn of events, 67-year-old Kathy Ann Hydrick, a female, was killed in her North Augusta, South Carolina community. A former licensed practical nurse and doting grandmother, she was remembered by friends and family for her love of flowers, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones. A lifelong resident of the area, she was a graduate of North Augusta High School and Augusta Technical College, where she earned her nursing degree.
On the morning of Thursday, March 27,
2025, law enforcement responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on Walnut Court. Upon entering the home, deputies discovered two deceased individuals. Hydrick was found in the kitchen with a gunshot wound to her body. The homeowner, identified as her 71-year-old boyfriend, Keith Jones, was also found deceased from what authorities determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Aiken County Coroner's Office officially ruled the incident a murder-suicide. According to the investigation, Jones shot and killed Hydrick before turning the gun on himself. A woman had reportedly called authorities after Jones told her he had shot someone. While an autopsy was scheduled for Hydrick, none was planned for Jones. The investigation by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the Coroner's Office concluded that there was no ongoing danger to the community related to this incident. No motive for the tragic event has been publicly released.
