Family Mourns Collin County Twin Sisters With Lifelong Bond

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McKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - Family and friends say they knew there were conflicts between Kelley and Karen Bigham of McKinney, but they never imagined it would have led to murder.

Now, Kelley Bigham, 50, sits in the Collin County Jail on a $1.5 million bond, charged with shooting and killing his wife Karen, 49, and her twin sister Kathy Boobar of Plano late Monday afternoon.

A neighbor who declined to speak on camera tells CBS 11 police were just recently at the Bigham's house.

In a probable cause affidavit, investigators say the Bighams' daughter Kylie called 911 at 5:40 p.m. after running out of her parents' house with her young son.

The document says, "Kylie said she was in the kitchen with Kelley when he told her she needed to leave and produced a handgun from his right gym shorts pocket... She said she saw Kelley enter the room where Karen and Kathy were and heard Karen yell for 911 to be called. Kylie said she heard two gunshots. After the first shot, she said she heard a female scream."

About 11 minutes after calling 911, Kylie told authorities Kelley texted her, "I'm sorry."

Kylie told investigators that her parents had marital problems and had lived separately for the past six months.

Kylie told McKinney police that on June 15, five days before the murders, her mother said, "Kelley came to the house and threatened to kill her as he held a handgun."

Kylie said her mother asked her to be at the house Monday afternoon when Kelley was picking up some of his belongings.

Tim Boobar, Kathy's husband says they knew there was conflict between the Bighams, who had been separated and were about to get divorced.

"Maybe we didn't take it seriously enough, but we never would have guessed it would have escalated to this point," said Tim Boobar.

Boobar says he didn't want to talk about the accused double-murderer.

Instead, he only wanted to speak about his loving wife and his sister-in-law.

"These are two women who were such givers in their life," said Boobar.

He and his daughter, Carly, say they are relying on their strong faith to get through this very difficult time.

"They're with Christ and God in heaven right now,"  said Carly, 19.  "That reassurance and hope is way more comforting than any hug can be."

Boobar says his wife went to be with Karen Monday afternoon to be with her and to get a haircut from her.

He says the two women were extremely close.

"One of the rules when we got married 25 years ago, was that she couldn't be more than 20 minutes from her sister, and so I honored that," said Boobar.

He says he takes comfort in what his pastor told him.

"Had something happened to Karen yesterday, and Kathy had not been there to help support and protect her sister, I don't know that she could have gone on. Obviously, we didn't want to lose either one of them, but if we were to lose them, than I think losing them together was the right way to go."

McKinney Police are asking the public for any information in this case.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim, Carly, Kathy and Karen's family and their friends. Kathy had an amazing and kind spirit. She served as a volunteer in the Junior League of Collin County and in the community for many years with grace and humility. She had a great smile, a generous laugh, and a servant's heart. We are family here at the Junior League of Collin County bonded together by our mission in the community and we will miss Kathy greatly. Her impact on our organization, on our members and on the citizens of our community is great and will be lasting," stated Maria Moffatt, president Junior League of Collin County.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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