STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Iredell County authorities have charged a 65-year-old woman in the slayings of four people last year.

Barbara Ann Evans of Jennings Road in Statesville was arrested late Tuesday on four counts of murder. The sheriff said she knew her victims.

Evans is accused of shooting to death James Powell, 74, and his wife Ruth Delet Powell, 71, in January and Don Barker, 62, and his wife Sue Barker, 63, in September.

Authorities said the couples had several things in common. Their houses were just a few miles apart near Highway 21 in rural Iredell County. Both men owned or had owned convenience stores, and both were known to carry a lot of cash. All of the victims were shot with the same gun.

The amount of money the men carried was originally thought to be a motive in their killings, but Sheriff Phil Redmond would not confirm or deny whether that was still thought to be the reason behind the slayings.

Redmond, however, said county residents can finally be at ease.

"Communities were worried about their safety, and this takes the pressure off. This shows we have closed this case out and what we've done makes this community a safer place to live," he said.

The sheriff said of the 700 people interviewed during the investigation, Evans was the only person that could be connected to all four victims. Detectives said because Evans was a friend, she didn't seem threatening.

Lowell Harmon, Don Barker's brother-in-law, agreed.

"It had to be someone Don knew and trusted. The same with the Powells, (the suspect) had to know them to get in," he said.

Detectives said they also have forensic evidence linking Evans to the crimes. They are still looking for a motive.

Evans, who lives with her adult son, does not have a criminal record in Iredell County.