Community grieves at candlelight vigil for murdered women

MONCKS CORNER — A community stunned by the killings of two young women expressed its grief tonight at a candlelight vigil filled with tears, hugs and prayers.

The bodies of June Guerry, 22, and Dana Woods, 18, were found this week in the Francis Marion Forest. Both were shot to death.

“I pray that the person who has done this will be brought to justice,” the Rev. Kyle Driggers of Pioneer Pentecostal Holiness Church in Cordesville said in a loud, firm voice.

A crowd of about 100 people softly sang “Amazing Grace” as they gathered in a half-circle around a photo of Guerry framed with the signatures of friends.

“Gone too soon. A rosebud picked before it could bloom,” a mourner wrote.

The vigil at Unity Park was for Guerry. A vigil for Woods was held Wednesday.

The grief-stricken struggled to express their feelings. Women fought back tears as they remembered Guerry and Woods.

Woods was described as a sweet girl and a loyal friend who wanted to be a lawyer. Friends spoke in equally glowing terms about Guerry.

Investigators have reported no suspects in the double homicide.

The body of Guerry was found Wednesday in the Francis Marion National Forest off a secluded dirt road in the Alvin area of Berkeley County. The day before, the body of Woods was found in the forest off Cane Gully Road in the Cordesville community.

Just before midnight Sunday, Woods called her boss and her mother to say that she and Guerry were giving someone a ride. Earlier, Guerry and Woods left Woods’ grandmother’s house to pick up food at a Burger King in Moncks Corner, where Woods once worked. Restaurant employees recalled seeing the women, authorities said, but nothing stood out about them.

At some point after the stop, a man climbed into Woods’ compact Chevrolet Metro. In her final phone calls, the Trident Technical College student wasn’t specific about what she was doing next.

She said only that a friend of Guerry was with them and that they were headed to another fast-food restaurant, a McDonald’s.

Woods’ burned car was found 75 yards from her body.

Read more later at postandcourier.com and in tomorrow’s newspaper.