The sheriff&squo;s office also took several calls after sketches of the suspect were released and followed up on leads.

Patrick Tracy Burris, 41, was fatally shot Monday by North Carolina officers who were investigating a complaint at a home in Gastonia, approximately 30 miles from where the killing spree in Cherokee County, S.C. took place. Burris was killed after he shot an officer, who officials say is expected to recover. Based on bullets from Burris&squo; gun as well as other evidence, including stolen goods from at least one murder victim, law enforcement officers have concluded that Burris was the serial killer.

A farmer was the first victim in Cherokee County on June 27, then a mother and daughter were killed and a father and teenage daughter last week. S.C. law enforcement officials have not found Burris&squo; connection with Cherokee County.

Investigators did not have an address for Burris, but had an approximately 25-page criminal history report on Burris, mostly involving incidents in North Carolina and Florida. The report listed multiple larceny, stolen goods and armed robbery charges.

Before the suspect was killed, the Polk sheriff&squo;s office was planning to send a public message to Polk residents to inform them of what actions to take if the suspect or his vehicle were spotted in the area. Sheriff Hill says Polk residents needed to be informed of what actions to take and who to contact in case the suspect was seen in Polk County.

South Carolina investigators said Monday that at some point the criminal justice system is going to need to explain why Burris was out on the street given his criminal record. Burris had a North Carolina warrant out for his arrest when he was shot and killed Monday morning.