York County man kept mother's, aunt's bodies in room for 3 years before taking his own life, deputies say

A South Carolina man kept the bodies of two women in a room of their home for more than three years before he took his own life, according to the York County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a well-being check of a home on Griggs Road, in Clover. Along with a Department of Social Services representative, the deputies discovered three bodies, according to public information officer Trent Fant.Thomas Stephen Gardner, Jr., 45, was found in the house first, according to Fant.He died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound days earlier, Fant said.The other bodies found were Susan Allred Gardner, 74, and Ruth Olivia Allred, 77, according to Fant. The women were Thomas Gardner's mother and aunt, Fant said.Deputies said they also found a suicide note from Thomas Gardner that said Susan Gardner had died in November 2015 and Allred died about six months later.In the note Gardner also said he did not report the deaths out of fear he would be blamed, Fant said.York County Coroner Sabrina Gast conducted an autopsy and toxicology tests on the bodies, according to Fant.The final report shows the manner of death for Susan Garner as undetermined, and the manner of death for Ruth Allred was natural.Detectives have no indication of foul play in the deaths of Ruth Allred or Susan Gardner, they said.Investigators believe Thomas Gardner wrapped the bodies and left them in a room of the home until their discovery, Fant said. Detectives think Thomas Gardner failed to report the deaths so he could continue to collect the women's government benefits. This case is administratively closed and no charges are filed, deputies said.

A South Carolina man kept the bodies of two women in a room of their home for more than three years before he took his own life, according to the York County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to a well-being check of a home on Griggs Road, in Clover. Along with a Department of Social Services representative, the deputies discovered three bodies, according to public information officer Trent Fant.


Thomas Stephen Gardner, Jr., 45, was found in the house first, according to Fant.

He died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound days earlier, Fant said.

The other bodies found were Susan Allred Gardner, 74, and Ruth Olivia Allred, 77, according to Fant. The women were Thomas Gardner's mother and aunt, Fant said.

Deputies said they also found a suicide note from Thomas Gardner that said Susan Gardner had died in November 2015 and Allred died about six months later.

In the note Gardner also said he did not report the deaths out of fear he would be blamed, Fant said.

York County Coroner Sabrina Gast conducted an autopsy and toxicology tests on the bodies, according to Fant.

The final report shows the manner of death for Susan Garner as undetermined, and the manner of death for Ruth Allred was natural.

Detectives have no indication of foul play in the deaths of Ruth Allred or Susan Gardner, they said.

Investigators believe Thomas Gardner wrapped the bodies and left them in a room of the home until their discovery, Fant said.

Detectives think Thomas Gardner failed to report the deaths so he could continue to collect the women's government benefits.

This case is administratively closed and no charges are filed, deputies said.