Catawba women, children dead in apparent homicide

The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said that a manhunt is under way after the bodies of two women and two children were found in a home east of Hickory on Thursday.

WBTV-TV reported Thursday that authorities found the four bodies in a home the Millstone Development, off Houston Mill Road, between Hickory and Conover, around 7 a.m.

Authorities said a mother, her 3-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, and another woman had all either been shot or stabbed to death.

A girl picking up the 18-year-old victim for a ride to Bunker Hill High School witnessed the mother being assaulted on the front porch, officials said. The girl called 911.

Law enforcement officials at the scene said that the victims' father had gone to work before the attacks.

Deputies said they were looking for a suspect described as a Hispanic or Asian man in his late 30s or early 40s, standing about 5 feet 4 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a blue, hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

He might be driving a newer model, black Honda with P24 on the license plate.