Heather Elvis - *Media Links* *No Discussion Thread*

[PeterThomasFan]

Witness testified his opinion is vehicle belonged to Moorers
Monday, April 18th 2016, 11:27 am EDT
Monday, April 18th 2016, 1:10 pm EDT

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - One of the state's proposed expert witnesses began testifying Monday morning during a pre-trial hearing for Heather Elvis kidnapping suspect Sidney Moorer.

Grant Fredericks, who works in forensic video analysis, testified that he is a contract instructor at the FBI National Academy and has taught forensic video analysis in a number of countries.

During questioning by prosecuting attorney Nancy Livesay, Fredericks talked at length about reverse projection, which is the process of overlaying temporary images of a scene with historic images of a scene in order to make observations or to obtain measurements.

Headlight spread patterns were also discussed during the opening of Monday's hearing, which also came into play to identify a vehicle in question involved in this case, according to the witness.

Fredericks testified that he could not identify a truck related to the case without the use of this science. He said his opinion is the vehicle involved in the case did belong to the defendant.

[…]

 

[Surfside]

Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes Announces Retirement

Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes announced her retirement Monday, effective May 6, 2016, according to a news release from the department.

Horry County Administrator, Chris Eldridge, has appointed Deputy Chief Kelvin Waites as Interim Chief.

I am leaving with the confidence that the Department will continue to be led by dedicated and motivated leaders and I know that the Department can only benefit from the fresh perspectives and new ideas that these individuals will bring.
During the remainder of my tenure with the Horry County Police I will be focusing on the transition to an Interim Chief.

Saundra Rhodes

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/31807674/horry-county-police-chief-saundra-rhodes-is-retiring-sources-say?sf24995617=1

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Sidney Moorer speaks about his relationship with Heather Elvis and facing kidnapping charges
BY ELIZABETH TOWNSEND
APRIL 30, 2016 1:00 AM

Kidnapping suspect Sidney Moorer opened up about the past two and a half years since he and his wife Tammy were charged in connection with 20-year-old Heather Elvis’ December 2013 disappearance.

Moorer, 40, talked for roughly two hours over the phone from his Florida home about his claims of corruption in Horry County, the threats he, Tammy, 43, and his three children have endured, including guns shot at them, pet mutilations, and stalkings, and what life is like for him in the Sunshine state versus Horry County.

[...]

 

[Dixie E]

Sidney Moorer speaks about his relationship with Heather Elvis and facing kidnapping charges
BY ELIZABETH TOWNSEND
APRIL 30, 2016 1:00 AM

Kidnapping suspect Sidney Moorer opened up about the past two and a half years since he and his wife Tammy were charged in connection with 20-year-old Heather Elvis’ December 2013 disappearance.

Moorer, 40, talked for roughly two hours over the phone from his Florida home about his claims of corruption in Horry County, the threats he, Tammy, 43, and his three children have endured, including guns shot at them, pet mutilations, and stalkings, and what life is like for him in the Sunshine state versus Horry County.

[...]

“Our lives are ruined forever,” he said. “My son may be 50 years old one day and someone may approach him and be like your dad killed Heather Elvis, even though it’s never been proven.”

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/crime/article74727932.html#storylink=cpy

(modsnip)

 

[PeterThomasFan]

One-On-One with Sidney Moorer
Friday, April 29th 2016, 4:43 pm EDT
Monday, May 2nd 2016, 8:15 am EDT

WEDNESDAY AT 11PM - After a year behind bars, charged with kidnapping, and at one time, murdering Heather Elvis, Sidney Moorer sits down one-on-one with WMBF News for a in-depth interview.

"I think there's a lot of information that proves our innocence," Moorer says. "I think there are a lot of leads they could have pursued that they just chose not to."

Reporter Conor McCue asks Moorer the tough questions in this exclusive sit-down interview. Tune in to WMBF News on Wednesday at 11 p.m. for the complete report.

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Horry County leaders refuse to explain retirement deal with ex-police chief
By Jo Brown and Ryan Webb
Published: May 9, 2016, 3:02 pm Updated: May 9, 2016, 9:14 pm

CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County leaders refuse to explain a payment to let the police chief retire early and some county council members told News13 they didn’t know about it.

Saundra Rhodes retired on May 6, 19 months before she was eligible for retirement.

Documents released on Monday show that Horry County paid out more than $61,145.37 to the South Carolina Retirement Systems to allow Rhodes to retire early with full benefits.

[...]

 

[PeterThomasFan]

High-ranking member of Horry County Police announces retirement
Wednesday, May 11th 2016, 1:58 pm EDT
Wednesday, May 11th 2016, 4:06 pm EDT
By Ian Cross, Digital Content Manager

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Horry County Police Deputy Chief of Support Scott Rutherford announced his retirement Wednesday, five days after Chief Saundra Rhodes served her last day before retiring herself.

County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier confirmed to WMBF News that Rutherford is retiring on June 6. Rutherford started on the police force on June 4, 1991, and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Support by then-Chief Saundra Rhodes in 2012. He earned a yearly salary of $79,747.20.

Former Horry County Police Chief Rhodes announced on April 25 that she would retire on May 6. On May 9, documents obtained by WMBF News revealed that the county paid over $60,000 into the state’s retirement system so that she could retire over a year early.

Rhodes’ retirement came as several individuals in the department are under investigation, including a detective who was fired after a 2015 investigation revealed sustained allegations of sexual harassment, and another detective who allegedly failed to investigate over 80 cases fully or appropriately.

[...]

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Sidney Moorer in court for motions hearing in Heather Elvis case
WBTW & Associated Press
Published: June 13, 2016, 9:42 am
Updated: June 13, 2016, 11:00 am

CONWAY, S.C. – The man charged with kidnapping a woman who has been missing for more than two years appeared in court for a motions hearing at 10 a.m. Monday.

Sidney Moorer and his wife Tammy Moorer face kidnapping charges in the disappearance of Heather Elvis, who was last seen in December 2013. Her car was found in Socastee.

[...]

 

[LBDunes]

Judge approves motion to try Sidney Moorer's charges separately, attorney says


http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/32227...attorney-says?clienttype=generic&sf28743850=1

 

[Coldpizza]

First witnesses testify they believed Heather Elvis was pregnant
Tuesday, June 21st 2016
By WMBF News Staff

The two witnesses, Jessica Cooke and Jody Davenport, testified they worked with Elvis at the former Tilted Kilt location at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach.

From there, they talked about a relationship that began between Elvis and Moorer, who also worked at the Titled Kilt as a maintenance employee.

During the relationship, the witnesses said Moorer would come in to the restaurant to see Elvis and bring her coffee and bagels.

[...]

After almost five hours of shrinking hundreds of potential jurors down, a jury panel of 12 and two alternates was seated before 2 p.m. Monday on the first day of the trial.

The panel is comprised of 10 men and four women. Judge Markley Dennis told the jurors not to research any details about the case as long as they were served on the jury. He then told them to break for lunch and be back at 3:30 p.m.

 

[Coldpizza]

Sidney Moorer trial: Witnesses think Heather Elvis may have been pregnant

A jury was chosen and the trial for Sidney Moorer, charged with kidnapping Heather Elvis, began as three witnesses testified Monday at the Horry County Courthouse.

“At its heart, this case is about an affair,” said Martin Spratlin, assistant solicitor with the 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office during his opening statement. The affair ended after Tammy Moorer, Sidney’s wife who is also charged with kidnapping, found out about it, Spratlin said.

“We’ve got an answer for everything because he didn’t do this,” said Kirk Truslow, Moorer’s attorney, during his opening argument. Sidney Moorer has now been “put in a position to fight for his life,” Truslow said.

Much more including photos at link^^^

 

[stillwatersc]

Mods, I believe this courtjunkie is an accepted link (like court chatter and others?)

Fabulous recap of first two days!
http://courtjunkie.com/sidney-moorer-trial-heather-elvis-case/ Day 1
http://courtjunkie.com/sidney-moorer-trial-day-2/ Day 2

Reposting from Trial thread. Thanks ATL

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Sidney Moorer speaks after Day 2 of trial, says pregnancy test was for his wife (with video)
By Taylor Herlong
Published: June 22, 2016, 2:06 am Updated: June 22, 2016, 8:38 am

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – After testimony wrapped up Tuesday for the Sidney Moorer trial, the man accused of kidnapping Heather Elvis, Moorer texted News13’s Taylor Herlong and said he was ready to talk.

After two days of the prosecution insinuating Heather Elvis was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, Moorer told us it only shows the prosecution is desperate. He says if she was pregnant, it was biologically impossible that it was his baby.

Three witnesses took the stand Monday, and all said Heather was in a sexual relationship with Sidney Moorer.

[...]

 

[lauriej]

http://www.kptv.com/story/32263850/sidney-moorer-trial-day-3
Sidney Moorer Trial, Day 3 -June 22nd

--video


http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/32279...ellphone-focus-of-wednesday-morning-testimony

Day three of Sidney Moorer trial ends with testimony about texts between defendant's, Elvis' phones

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Heather Elvis' parents frustrated with mistrial in kidnapping case
Monday, June 27th 2016, 7:44 pm EDT
Monday, June 27th 2016, 11:04 pm EDT

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Although Terry and Debbi Elvis don’t have the closure they really want, which is to find their daughter Heather, they left the courtroom Friday without the little bit of closure they were expecting to have by then.

“You've been hanging two-and-a-half years trying to find your child and now you're just hoping for that one step closer and it's gone,” Debbi Elvis said.

<snipped by me>

During jury selection, a juror told the judge he is an acquaintance of defense attorney Kirk Truslow, but said he would be able to make his own judgments independent of that relationship.

Truslow said he believed that he would be capable of that as well.

“The defense, as an officer of the court, had a responsibility to the people of the county to say, ‘Hey, that might not be right,’ and pluck that weed before it grew,” Terry Elvis said.

The couple said they think the entire system broke down and the defense, the judge and the juror are all to blame in the decision to have an acquaintance of the defense on the jury.

“There were people that stood up and said they were friends or acquaintances or business acquaintances of ours,” Terry Elvis said. “They excused themselves knowing full well they couldn’t be unfair and couldn’t be unbiased.”

Approximately 800 juror questionnaires were sent out for the case and 300 people showed up for jury selection.

“They could’ve just gone one more or two more just to get a replacement for that and not take that chance,” Debbi Elvis said. “It was too big of a chance.”

[…]

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Solicitor: Sidney Moorer case will go to trial again
From staff reports 13 hrs ago

Prosecutors plan to take Sidney Moorer to trial again.

Jurors deadlocked Friday in the case against Moorer, with 10 believing him guilty of kidnapping Heather Elvis and two insisting he was innocent.

Judge Markley Dennis declared a mistrial, leaving the decision to pursue a second trial in the hands of Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

&#8220;We&#8217;ll retry the case,&#8221; Richardson said. &#8220;Hopefully sooner rather than later.&#8221;

The solicitor said he&#8217;d like to see Moorer in court again this summer, but a trial date hasn&#8217;t been set.

[&#8230;]

 

[carolinagurl]

Moorer accused of violating gag order, hearing scheduled for September


http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/32425...ing-gag-order-hearing-scheduled-for-september

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Hearing set to determine if Sidney Moorer violated gag order on Heather Elvis case
BY WPDE TUESDAY, JULY 12TH 2016

Horry County, S.C. (WPDE) — A hearing date has been officially set to determine if Sidney Moorer violated a court gag order after talking to a local news outlet during his trial in June.

The hearing is set for 9:45 a.m. on Sept. 6 in Horry County.

The gag order was issued in March 2014 by Judge Steven John and prohibited all parties from releasing certain information outside of court.

On Tuesday, June 21, 2016, following the second day of trial, Moorer provided an interview to a local news outlet, in which he discussed the facts of the case and the proceedings that occurred in court, according to court paperwork.

[...]

 

[Surfside]

Witness who testified in Sidney Moorer trial requested back in court starting Aug. 29


An affidavit filed in the Sidney Moorer kidnapping case has requested a witness attend the Court of General Sessions starting Aug. 29 and last for approximately 12 days.

According to the affidavit filed July 13, Stephen Schiraldi was asked to be in court during the period of Aug. 29 through Sept. 9.


http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/32448318/witness-who-testified-in-sidney-moorer-trial-requested-back-in-court-starting-aug-29

 

[stillwatersc]

http://wbtw.com/2016/07/20/sidney-moorers-retrial-scheduled-to-begin-in-august/

According to court documents filed Tuesday, jury selection in the re-trial case begins Monday, August 29 with the trial scheduled to start then upon qualification of the jury panel.

Friday, July 15, 800 Juror Summons and Questionnaires were mailed out. Those questionnaires have to be sent back by Monday, August 15.