Search intensifies for clues in double murder

Sheriff's investigators and U.S. Marshall's officers scoured highway ditches in Newton county Wednesday looking for evidence and a weapon that was used to kill a woman and her nephew in their Covington home.

Peggy Molden, 66, and her partially paralyzed relative, Donald McCollough, 56, were found shot to death in their Tempie Lane home around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"It's just beyond me who could do such a thing," neighbor Walter Norman said.

Norman told reporters he was home when the killings took place but did not hear any gunshots from the house two doors away.

"I was shocked. Everyone in the neighborhood was shocked, especially happening at 9:30 in the moing. I can't think of Peggy having any enemies," Norman said.

The victims' family members said Molden was caring for her nephew.

Emergency workers responded to the home after a medical alert device on one of the victims activated an alarm.

Investigators said there was no sign of forced entry into the home and some undisclosed items were missing. They are still working on a motive.

"We're hoping the investigation will reveal leads and we will follow up on those leads to try to identify what happened and why it happened," Lt. Keith Crum of the Newton County Sheriff's Office said.

Crum said he cannot speculate if the victims' knew their killer.