Coroner: Kershaw mother shot seven times, son charged

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — New details emerged Friday about the death of a Kershaw woman in her own home.

Carolyn Taurino, 57, was found shot in her house Wednesday. Her son, Robert Hypes, 36, is charged with murder.

On Friday, Eyewitness News learned she was shot seven times in the head, with a .22 long rifle, according to county coroner Mike Morris.

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Her body was found in a bedroom hallway of her home on Flat Creek Road at least three days after the slaying.

Taurino was a double amputee and was wheelchair bound.

Deputies believe her son shot her, then later went to her bank and asked about her account there. Bank employees thought he was acting suspiciously, and he was later stopped driving his mother's van.

Sheriff's spokesman Doug Barfield said investigators are still learning about the family. When Channel 9 checked Thursday, the mother and son who lived together, were unknown to their neighbors.

"We don't know how long they're been living in the community. We're certainly going to talk to family members and try to get a little bit more background," Barfield said.

The family members were expected to arrive in Lancaster from Pennsylvania and New Jersey on Friday, Channel 9 was told.

Channel 9 also requested search warrants from the home. Deputies would not provide copies of them, but did say some of the DNA evidence is being sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for analysis.

Investigators spent more than 12 hours combing through the house from Wednesday night until early Thursday morning.

Bail was denied for Hypes on Thursday afternoon. Barfield said he has been interviewed at least three times while in custody, but he wouldn't provide details on any statements that were made.

Family members contacted by Channel 9 declined to comment.

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