Columbia County Burglary Victim Shot, Neighbor Murdered

(Augusta) - Becky Sears told Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigators as she was leaving work at Healing Hands Physical Therapy, in Augusta, an unknown man came from the back of the building with a gun and shot her.

Sears was hit in the leg and says the gunman told her that “that if she didn’t have his money, it would be her face.“ She says he then ran into the woods.

Captain Steve Morris, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office:” We are aware of the fact that Mrs. Sears, who is the neighbor of Mrs. Parsons, was involved in a shooting incident in Richmond County, last night. We’ve been in contact with Richmond County authorities concerning that matter.”

Kay Parsons also worked at Healing Hands Physical Therapy, and she and Sears were next door neighbors.

Authorities’ say both their homes were burglarized the day Parsons was beaten with a bat in her garage. She died Thursday at MCG.

Are the 2 incidents connected?

Captain Morris: “Is there a connection? We don’t know. We’re not aware of any connection. We have been contact with Richmond County authorities; only time will tell.”

Richmond County detectives aren’t talking about the incident.

Captain Morris says more interviews are scheduled and they are continuing to follow all leads in Parsons’ murder.

Captain Morris: “We work from the inside out; taking nothing for granted and again making no assumptions whatsoever. What exactly we’re dealing with, we don’t know.”