Authorities in South Carolina say two men are facing murder charges after the bodies of two women were found buried near a home in Spartanburg last week.
According to Fox News, authorities identified two suspects — one of whom had been admitted to the hospital after an apparent suicide attempt. That individual confessed to investigators and both suspects were arrested by Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Sheriff Chuck Wright confirmed the arrests of 39-year-old Jonathan Galligan and 41-year-old Christian Hulburt. The victims were identified as Christin Renee Bunner, 27, and Melissa Fairlee Rhymer, 40.
Police initially interacted with Hulburt earlier in the week in connection to a report of an armed man at the location. Upon their arrival, he reportedly shot himself in the head.
At the hospital, authorities say he told them he saw Galligan shoot and kill Bunner — Galligan’s girlfriend — and confessed that he helped bury the body. During subsequent questioning, Hulburt reportedly told investigators about a second victim who was killed earlier this year and buried near Bunner’s body.
According to one neighbor, the home where the buried bodies were found had been occupied by a woman and three men, but they had not been around the property in recent weeks.
A short time after police arrested Galligan, Hulburt was released from the hospital and into police custody. Both were denied bond during a hearing Saturday evening. Both are expected to face multiple charges, including one count each of murder.
Additional information regarding motive or cause of death were not immediately available.
[Featured images: Christin Renee Bunner and Melissa Fairlee Rhymer, Facebook]
