Memories of the "Gaffney Strangler" were reignited this week after authorities said a new serial killer gunned down four people during three separate incidents over several days. Authorities have released a sketch of the accused killer and a description of the sport utility vehicle he may be driving, but they have been silent about exactly what has linked the slayings.

The town of Gaffney, about 50 miles south of Charlotte, N.C., is located in a county that had just six homicides in all of 2008, and half that the year before.