EVIDENCE - Pro and Con

[NWLady]

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/24804641/hcpd-couple-to-be-charged-with-murder-of-heather-elvis

On the WMBF News Facebook page, news of the murder charges were met with some confusion. Many people wanted to know how a person can be charged with murder if the victim is still missing. A law enforcement official said murder charges can be filed without a body only if investigators have found enough evidence to prove the murder happened, through multiple pieces of evidence.

Capt. Dale Buchanan with Horry County Police said, "We have evidence that will be processed with us. SLED is assisting us with processing some of the forensic evidence. Is some of that evidence DNA? Yes."



ETA: So, if I am understanding correctly, can a person *probably assume* that this is the DNA evidence talked about at last bond hearing, that was thought to be found in the Moorer's vehicle but was actually found in Heather's car?

 

[NWLady]

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/24804641/hcpd-couple-to-be-charged-with-murder-of-heather-elvis

Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes said police located evidence inside the Moorers' home and on their property during the search Friday that gave them probable cause for the murder charge.

"We had a good amount of evidence and the stuff HCPD found, added to that evidence," said Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

 

[magnolia]

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/24804641/hcpd-couple-to-be-charged-with-murder-of-heather-elvis

On the WMBF News Facebook page, news of the murder charges were met with some confusion. Many people wanted to know how a person can be charged with murder if the victim is still missing. A law enforcement official said murder charges can be filed without a body only if investigators have found enough evidence to prove the murder happened, through multiple pieces of evidence.

Capt. Dale Buchanan with Horry County Police said, "We have evidence that will be processed with us. SLED is assisting us with processing some of the forensic evidence. Is some of that evidence DNA? Yes."



ETA: So, if I am understanding correctly, can a person *probably assume* that this is the DNA evidence talked about at last bond hearing, that was thought to be found in the Moorer's vehicle but was actually found in Heather's car?

I assume it is.

 

[TTF14]

Any ideas on why they'd take the gaming systems?

 

[NFYIAMY]

-$10,600 in cash from a safe (M's home)
-a torso of a mannequin with white a white tank top (M's home)
-Bi-Lo receipt dated Dec. 18, 2013 (M's home)
-two shotguns (M's home) Police took two swabs from a shotgun, but the warrants don’t specify from which shotgun the swab was taken.

What the warrants said

Horry County police executed search warrants at the homes of the Moorers and Caisons on Dec. 23, 2013 and Feb. 21, 2014, records show.

The warrants sought cell phones, computers, video recording devices and a plethora of other evidence in the Elvis case, according to documents obtained by the Chronicle.

Police also sought forensic evidence, weapons, clothing, jewelry, phone records, financial records, vehicle keys, receipts, garden or other outdoor tools and unspecified personal identification, correspondence and passwords, the warrants state.

[...]

After searching the home, police seized several boxes of records, CDs and mini-cassettes. The contents of those items were not disclosed in the warrant returns.

Police also took numerous bank records, flash drives, journals and Sidney Moorer’s business license, records state.

The affidavit said Heather Elvis was last seen wearing a white watch and was in possession of her keys, a phone, her identification and her purse and/or wallet, the document says.

“The affiant believes that it is necessary to enter the above property under the premise of a search warrant and that entering said property will lead to information that will help with the disappearance and/or finding of the victim,” the affidavit states.

[...]

Sidney Moorer told police he couldn’t leave the home without his wife due to “trust issues,” the affidavit continues.

http://www.myhorrynews.com/news/crime/article_441416a8-86ef-11e4-a903-afb6f4109dfe.html

Let's not forget - there were things at the 1st bond hearing evidence wise - that's not listed even in that article. For example: The diary TM was keeping with all that information about the Elvis family.

We have no idea what they have in totality.

I, even though I'm probably in the minority, hope the gag order stays --- for the sake of the case. After hearing SM's attorney talk about information - then the state come back and say that what he said is just untrue - I fear how bad things could go if the gag order is lifted. Just seems like it would be a hot mess.

 

[Madeleine74]

I agree. Plus it's never a good idea for a case to be tried in the court of public opinion where potential jurors might be influenced either way. Everyone should want there to be a fair trial and the only place that evidence should be disclosed should be in a courtroom. And I say this as a very curious individual who always wants to know the details in cases I follow.

 

[bestill]

Polly Caison says the hardest thing about the whole process was the $10,600, which she said her grandchildren had been saving for college. The money still hasn’t been returned, she said.
“They [police] took everything out of their house,” Caison said. “The only things they’ve got left are their beds and their refrigerators.”

In my opinion there are more pressing issues than this "hardest thing about the whole process was the $10,600". Another point, she sounds as if it may not be returned? Do kids really saving cash for college keep it at home? Just more alibi's in the making. Hope TM's reading this, so that when she's on the stand she can keep the story straight.

Did the police really take everything and only leave beds and refrigerators? I don't think that's accurate either.

 

[Surfside]

I, even though I'm probably in the minority, hope the gag order stays --- for the sake of the case.

I agree. Plus it's never a good idea for a case to be tried in the court of public opinion where potential jurors might be influenced either way. Everyone should want there to be a fair trial and the only place that evidence should be disclosed should be in a courtroom. And I say this as a very curious individual who always wants to know the details in cases I follow.

Me three.

 

[TTF14]

Polly Caison says the hardest thing about the whole process was the $10,600, which she said her grandchildren had been saving for college. The money still hasn’t been returned, she said.
“They [police] took everything out of their house,” Caison said. “The only things they’ve got left are their beds and their refrigerators.”

In my opinion there are more pressing issues than this "hardest thing about the whole process was the $10,600". Another point, she sounds as if it may not be returned? Do kids really saving cash for college keep it at home? Just more alibi's in the making. Hope TM's reading this, so that when she's on the stand she can keep the story straight.

Did the police really take everything and only leave beds and refrigerators? I don't think that's accurate either.

Yes, all absolutely ludicrous. These folks don't seem like the type that would be saving for college, much less saving CASH for college. That amount of money might buy one of those kids (who are all far off from college) a semester???

If they really only left beds and refrigerators, I guess we should expect to see the M family out shopping for couches, kitchen table, clothing, washing machine, televisions.....

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Any ideas on why they'd take the gaming systems?

Gaming systems that hook up to the internet store info and chat messages.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Sorry for any typos!

 

[TTF14]

Gaming systems that hook up to the internet store info and chat messages.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Sorry for any typos!

Yeah, that's all I could think of, but I would think it's pretty unlikely they were communicating with HE through the Xbox. I guess anything is possible!

 

[bestill]

Yeah, that's all I could think of, but I would think it's pretty unlikely they were communicating with HE through the Xbox. I guess anything is possible!

Also store the activity on them too? Maybe SM used that as an alibi at some time during the time Heather was missing. LE is checking to verify. Another thought did SM communicate with HE through them?

 

[magnolia]

I agree. Plus it's never a good idea for a case to be tried in the court of public opinion where potential jurors might be influenced either way. Everyone should want there to be a fair trial and the only place that evidence should be disclosed should be in a courtroom. And I say this as a very curious individual who always wants to know the details in cases I follow.

Geez,this case has already been tried in the court of public opinion. Look around you.

I might agree if the gag order had been put in place from the very beginning. I think the defense should have the right to speak.

 

[jillycat]

There hasn't been a trial yet. The prosecution is taking the case to trial so of course they are going to say and believe there's enough evidence to have a jury decide.

Why would spectators try to conclude the "evidence isn't there" until such time as all the evidence has been presented? The perps can act like anything they want; most perps in most cases claim there's no or very little evidence as do their paid legal advocates.

We shall see in a few months time.

If the police don't intend spectators when they declare publicly that there's DNA, and then later say this isn't a DNA case, I really question why on earth they make public statements about evidence.

Maybe they found a journal at the M house that said "I'm killing her at PTL on 12/18 with Sid's help, and I'm stealing her white shirt for a trophy". I've never said the case is closed. In fact, I've said I think anything can happen in this case, and that we'll probably see some surprises in the end.

But when the authorities claim they have something, then say they don't, then say they can't say they're confident, but they think they have a good case, I cannot imagine a scenario where that would not be discussed and questioned on a thread about the evidence in the case. ?

 

[hunderwood]

Wouldn't they have to have some sort of evidence besides video of truck and texts, pings, calls, to charge them with kidnapping and murder?

 

[Motherof5]

I'm sure this has been discussed...probably at length. But, maybe he just liked being handcuffed and dominated. There was that VD photo she put on fb with the handcuffs, as well, right? That, in and of itself, would not make me think he, or she, is any more or less likely to have killed Heather. It just would go to opportunity if he was handcuffed at any specific time which would have prohibited his involvement. IMO

The cuffs don't really tell me anything as far as what happened to Heather. TM texting Heather and telling her that she would find her and it wouldn't be a great ending for Heather, tells me a lot. JMO


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dr. Know?]

Ahhh, if memory serves me correctly, one of my posts saying DNA evidence was found in the Moorer truck, was pretty sketchy. Only one article stating it back then by one LE, might have been video? All other articles said they found DNA. Will check on that when I have the time.

 

[bestill]

This is from the grand jury decision...http://www.wbtw.com/story/25038367/grand-jury-indicts-couple-in-heather-elvis-murder

 

[Motherof5]

This is from the grand jury decision...http://www.wbtw.com/story/25038367/grand-jury-indicts-couple-in-heather-elvis-murder

Greg McCollum, attorney for Tammy Moorer, says his client has a clean criminal record - to the extent that he was unaware of any traffic tickets against the 42-year-old - and has full faith in the justice system. Tammy Moorer is a long-standing native of Horry County, which McCollum noted has led her to start a family and home school her children in the area where she was raised.

Greg...I love that so much because of this......

Sidney Moorer, 38, and his wife, Tammy, 42, were charged Tuesday with obtaining signature or property under false pretenses, value $10,000 or more and false statement on application for Medicaid assistance, according to arrest warrants issued by the South Carolina Attorney General's Office.

But hey...her driving record is spotless!! :floorlaugh:

 

[Dr. Know?]

Thanks Bestill, friendly reminder of some of the evidence. I'd go for it. jmo