SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office has released additional findings in the tragic March deaths of three family members in what authorities now confirm was a murder-suicide.
According to investigators, 54-year-old Richard Samarel fatally shot his wife, 45-year-old Lina Samarel, and their 9-year-old daughter, Samantha Samarel, before turning the gun on himself inside the family’s Greer home on Marilyn Perry Lane.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and coroner’s investigators were called to the residence earlier this year, where they discovered all three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The bodies were located in what officials described as a disturbing and emotionally devastating scene.
Following a comprehensive investigation and autopsy reports, the coroner officially ruled Samantha and Lina Samarel’s deaths as homicides, while Richard Samarel’s death was ruled a suicide.
The sheriff’s office stated that there were no prior indications of violence reported at the home, though the motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. The incident sent shockwaves through the Greer community, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls for mental health and family support resources.
Neighbors and friends described the family as quiet and respectful, and the loss of young Samantha—described by teachers as kind-hearted and bright—has been particularly heartbreaking for those who knew her.
Counseling services were made available to affected students and staff in the aftermath, and the community continues to mourn the profound loss.
Authorities have not released further information about any ongoing aspects of the investigation but say there is no threat to the public.