SC - Heather Elvis, 20, Myrtle Beach, 18 Dec 2013 - #3

[JnRyan]

Today a friend and I were on 544, we drove down to Peachtree Landing and recorded a portion of it. I apologize in advance that it wasn't recording on the drive to the landing but at least it gives you an idea of the area and the drive back. This is my first video so please be kind.

Peachtree Landing Road - YouTube

This shows a clearer view of the situation. Some of us on here tossed out theories as to how HE's car came to be there. Did she drive there? Or was the car planted there is hope that it would not be found for a day or two?

This is long walk back to 544. Not that it would be difficult, but someone walking out there would be noticed. Chances are a dog or dogs would start barking if in the very early morning and someone might notice. (Out our way, Jamisha Gilbert's car was found at a one-car accident site but she was not with the car. A witness noticed someone out walking in the early hours of the morning at least 2 miles away. LE searched in that area and found her body.) A person out walking would probably stand out. I surmised the perp could have carried a bike in the car to ride out of there, but I'm an experienced cyclist and can cover that distance, after sun came up, in 10-12 minutes, 15 max. Someone walking would take 45 minutes to an hour. The longer they are on the road, the greater the chance of getting noticed.

This seems to make more likely that if the car was planted there, they had an accomplice.

 

[betterthaniusedtobe]

Thank you. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, my friend is a terrible driver and I gave her explicit instructions not to speed, hit bumps in the road and not to drive in the center. LOL We were there around 2:15/2:30 this afternoon, imagine being there after dark. I just can't imagine Heather going there late at night.

I was concerned a time or two when she was straddling the center line:floorlaugh:

Imo HE did not go there on her own will. I have always been the brave one in the group, but I don't think I would EVER go there alone and definitely not at dark.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

'Salute to all the CUE & Volunteer searchers'

Thanx for sharing, Dr. Know? The lady giving the instructions; CB is married to a NC LEO; also a CUE member. They are longtime CUE members and belong to a Mounted search and rescue team for their Sheriff's Department where they live. In their spare time they escort fallen US Veterans..

I saw this, which made me feel better about the searches:

http://www.wbtw.com/story/24338952/searchers-talk-about-discovery-of-human-remains-in-horry-county

Searchers talk about discovery of human remains in Horry County
Posted: Dec 31, 2013 7:11 PM EST
Updated: Jan 01, 2014 3:23 PM EST
By Leah Mishkin - bio | email

Snipped:
"Most of the people who volunteered to come search and help are all parents and they're concerned for their children and the Elvis' family and the Cross family and the other missing children and adults," said West.

West said one aspect that helped the group on Saturday in finding the human remains is that people in the group were firefighters, had military background, and law enforcement background. He said their knowledge and the organization of the search were key to their discovery.

 

[margarita25]

I know this isn't directed to me, sorry, maybe I can be of help? Trying to catch up tonight, forgive me if this is duplicate information. I joined the search today, and while it was organized and ran by CUE, the majority of volunteers were (like myself) inexperienced. The volunteers were grouped into teams, and each team had an experienced leader. We were given very strict/precise information on what to do if we came across anything so as not to contaminate any possible evidence.

On another note I had the honor of meeting Monica Caison from CUE today and she is a true saint; I can't imagine how she does this all!

Thank you for searching, Cgs!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Your dog is like "**** this place"

Lol I said basically the same thing. I shoulda finished catching up first. I like your description better.

 

[lonetraveler]

I apologize if this has been covered but have tracking dogs been used around the area of the car and did they track her scent from the car to any other location? I was thinking that if her scent was tracked around and away from the car that the question of someone else parking the car there and walking away could be ruled out.

 

[CarolinaAsh]

Today a friend and I were on 544, we drove down to Peachtree Landing and recorded a portion of it. I apologize in advance that it wasn't recording on the drive to the landing but at least it gives you an idea of the area and the drive back. This is my first video so please be kind.

Peachtree Landing Road - YouTube

So I watched and maybe it's because it was daylight and I'm a local but even so, at night, I'd have no problem with it under a few conditions: either I was going to remain in my nicely locked car the entire time or I was meeting someone I knew and trusted. Honestly, it looks like every other side road in this area to me. Heck, it looks like 2 of the roads I take to and from work/town.

 

[BLKZ06]

First off I do not work for am or I associated at all with HCPD. Nor am I anywhere near MB for my primary residence. All my information and concussions have been solely based upon what I have found publicly through the media and SM and Google.

My first answer would be for long range of time. Why were these remains not found years ago or when they searched for Britanee:

We or at least I do not know the terrain or amount of brush in the area where the remains were found. Or what that area was like years ago. Plus we are in winter so there is no growth of the vegetation. This allows items to get exposed. According to the reports it appeared the remains had been there awhile. And as weird or disgusting as it may sound animals love to eat what food they can find or bones. And remains can get scattered.

Again the catch 22 theory ???

If there were local residence or hunters that knew this area well and knew of different locations and experience with the terrain then that may explain why LE didn't find the remains. And its possible that at the beginning of their investigation they were searching for a missing person hoping she is still alive and not a recovery for remains. I don't know and cannot answer that.

Being in LE nothing is rare and not one case is ever the same as another case. Everything is a learning experience and every single case there is always a challenge or challenges.

Also think about this, Why weren't these remains found years ago from regular people or hunters in the area ? Who knows.

One important thing to remember is that in SC, land is considered private even if its not posted. Which eliminates the free wandering hunting you see in places like WV, Ohio, etc. In WV, you can pull your car of I77 and walk into the woods and hunt to your hearts content. As long as the land isn't posted, you are good to go.

Not so in SC.

The chances of a hunter stumbling onto human remains on a vast unmarked area like Tidewater are slim to none, because most hunters hunt on leased land and clubs which are rare on the coast.

 

[onlyjustice]

Today a friend and I were on 544, we drove down to Peachtree Landing and recorded a portion of it. I apologize in advance that it wasn't recording on the drive to the landing but at least it gives you an idea of the area and the drive back. This is my first video so please be kind.

Peachtree Landing Road - YouTube

After watching the drive..I cannot imagine anyone driving here....unless they were in a bad state of mind..cannot imagine anyone even meeting someone..then leaving their car here...when they have an apartment..I guess it takes me back to those sad moments she shared on tumbler ....she seemed so unhappy and confused with her sexuality ..I Pray that she is found soon...Praying for her family !!

 

[passionflower]

One important thing to remember is that in SC, land is considered private even if its not posted. Which eliminates the free wandering hunting you see in places like WV, Ohio, etc. In WV, you can pull your car of I77 and walk into the woods and hunt to your hearts content. As long as the land isn't posted, you are good to go.

Not so in SC.

The chances of a hunter stumbling onto human remains on a vast unmarked area like Tidewater are slim to none, because most hunters hunt on leased land and clubs which are rare on the coast.

Thank you, never knew that about land/hunting SC.....

 

[Jersey*Girl]

No, I honestly don't mind.
About 20 plus years ago we got a call some time after dark (around August) that my cousin and his best friend had gone fishing and hadn't returned. He loved to fish, knew the river well and was always off the water before dark so we thought he'd had problems with his boat motor. Everyone began searching, Peachtree Landing is where we found his truck and boat trailer late that night. We all expected him to come walking up or call but that didn't happen. At daylight the next morning the searches began and we kept coming up with nothing. Divers searched for several days. Several days later both were found but the boat or any signs of it never appeared. We didn't know what had happened.
HCPD began investigating, they checked with the local hospital and someone had shown up to have a broken arm set. They were so drunk at the emergency room they told the doctor they'd hit a log in the river. Due to a little dirty Horry County politics (nothing to do with HCPD, they were great) the drunk driver was never charged for killing two innocent men.

I thought the dogs were funny too, two rescues that belong to my friend.

Beba, I am so very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful caring person you are to find the strength to record this area. Shame on the HC politics! How does a drunk driver that killed 2 people get away without being charged? How does that even happen? At the very least he should have been charged with 2 counts of manslaughter. Wth?

 

[BLKZ06]

Does anyone know...who owns the land where the remains were found?

Myrtle Beach Farms owns a huge chunk off Tidewater.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I know this isn't directed to me, sorry, maybe I can be of help? Trying to catch up tonight, forgive me if this is duplicate information. I joined the search today, and while it was organized and ran by CUE, the majority of volunteers were (like myself) inexperienced. The volunteers were grouped into teams, and each team had an experienced leader. We were given very strict/precise information on what to do if we came across anything so as not to contaminate any possible evidence.

On another note I had the honor of meeting Monica Caison from CUE today and she is a true saint; I can't imagine how she does this all!

Thank you so much, both for your explanation as well as your service in searching. Such a selfless contribution. Thank you. Its great that there were so many volunteer searchers, and even better that some of them were cops & trained professionals. It's impressive!

 

[BLKZ06]

As long as the community stays involved it's not going to go away. I've got some health issues that I'm currently dealing with to keep me from being able to search by foot. Keep in mind that Horry County council controls HCPD and those are our ELECTED officials. They can be replaced and it's usually nice to give them a reminder of that fact.

Horry County Council definitely needs a wakeup if they don't see the missing in our area as an issue.

Horry County Clowncil is probably huddling trying to work out damage control for the influx of tourists headed our way in 2-3 months.

They are not concerned with crime or the homeless....they only care about keeping the bad things from our tourists. 2 of the Clowncil member businesses rely on tourists to keep them fat and happy....who do you think they are concerned about? Tourists, or crime?

 

[passionflower]

Horry County Clowncil is probably huddling trying to work out damage control for the influx of tourists headed our way in 2-3 months.

They are not concerned with crime or the homeless....they only care about keeping the bad things from our tourists. 2 of the Clowncil member businesses rely on tourists to keep them fat and happy....who do you think they are concerned about? Tourists, or crime?

Unfortunately this hits home to allot of cities, even small ones like mine.
My daughter's friend's murder was called 'suicide'..........because of who it might involve..............bad publicity ...........

 

[passionflower]

Every land owner should be out searching on their own land if it is private. IIRC this was done in Hailey Dunn's case in Texas.

 

[Beba]

Here is a short clip of the Soccastee Swing Bridge that I mentioned in my early posts.

Peachtree Landing to Soccastee Blvd. - YouTube

 

[Jersey*Girl]

One important thing to remember is that in SC, land is considered private even if its not posted. Which eliminates the free wandering hunting you see in places like WV, Ohio, etc. In WV, you can pull your car of I77 and walk into the woods and hunt to your hearts content. As long as the land isn't posted, you are good to go.

Not so in SC.

The chances of a hunter stumbling onto human remains on a vast unmarked area like Tidewater are slim to none, because most hunters hunt on leased land and clubs which are rare on the coast.

So, feeding off of your post, I want to know if I'm understanding it correctly... What you're saying is that hunters know or have the capability of finding out which land they can hunt on vs not hunt on. Right? If so, then is it safe to say that a person that doesn't hunt wouldn't know which land hunters frequent bc they don't have that experience, knowledge. Furthermore, is it then safe to assume the perp responsible for the remains (bones) found off of Tidewater could have very likely been a hunter (or had hunting knowledge) and dumped the body there bc he knew it wouldn't be found quickly since that area isn't used for hunting?

 

[Cgs]

thanks for the info........did you get the feeling you are on a recovery mission or just for clues?

Sorry for the slow reply, I was still several pages back. We were told to look for anything that was not part of the natural terrain (not the exact words, kwim?). Never having done this before I can't really say what type of mission I felt we were on. But I don't think that anyone was expecting to find anyone alive (sadly) if that helps

 

[BLKZ06]

Just to give people an idea of how difficult it is to search for someone....think about looking for something in a 12" x 12" square. Not too hard, huh?

Now....expand that to 43,560 squares. Now add in dirt, trees, underbrush, snakes, thorns, and leaves.

Bad news is...you've only looked at 1 ACRE of squares.

The area off Tidewater looks to be north of 500 acres.

So, now there's 21,780,000 of those little squares to search.