commentary by Patrick H. Moore
A lovely young South Carolina woman with the unlikely name of Heather Elvis vanished mysteriously sometime after 2:00 a.m. on December 18,2013. She had been out on a date that evening and is believed to have been dropped off at her condo sometime before 2:00 a.m. Although her “date” was naturally a “person of interest” early in the investigation, he was eventually ruled out as a suspect.
It is known that Heather called her female roommate who was out of town, and with whom she was good friends, about an hour after being dropped off to discuss her night out. According to the roommate, Heather reported that she had an awesome time and was eager to see the young man again. This was the last time any of Heather’s friends, associates and family members spoke with her.
Last month, Heather’s grief-stricken father, Terry Elvis, penned a heart-wrenching meditation on the physical and emotional toll his beloved daughter’s disappearance has taken. In it, Terry sets forth what he knows about Heather’s date which contributes to the general consensus that he was in no way responsible for her disappearance. Terry Elvis writes:
The last time anyone saw Heather, she had a first date with a young man…
Heather and her date went to dinner and drove around looking at Christmas lights, which Heather has always loved. They ended up at a local mall parking lot, and Heather asked her date to teach her to drive the truck so that she could learn to drive a stick. That was the moment where she texted me the photo of her proud accomplishment. (Heather had always wanted to learn how to drive her father’s truck which has a stick-shift and clutch.)
Sometime after that photo was taken, Heather’s date returned my daughter to the condo that she shared with her roommate, who was out of town for Christmas. She parted with the young man for the night — which is the last time anyone saw her.
Based on a subsequent piece of evidence, it seems incontrovertible that Heather did leave her condo sometime after her phone conversation with her roommate. The following day her dark green 2001 Dodge Intrepid was found parked at Peachtree boat landing, which is in Socastee on the outskirts of Myrtle Beach, about an eight-minute drive from Heather’s parents’ house. Although she is believed to have driven herself to the boat landing sometime before dawn on Dec. 18th, the authorities do not know when or why.
Terry Elvis reports that the boat landing was well-known to the whole family and adds: “She liked to go to the water now and then, but not at that hour of the night.”
Terry also stated that his daughter’s cellphone was not found in her vehicle and is still missing.
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Since Heather’s disappearance, numerous search crews have scoured the area hoping to find clues that will lead them to a still living Heather. On January 3rd, in 30-degree weather, a search crew consisting of more than 100 people, including multiple police units from as far away as Missouri and Florida and 5 K-9 units, combed the area – some on horseback, some driving ATVs, and some on foot. The most recent search, organized by the CUE Center for Missing Persons, took place over the weekend. According to The Sun News, nearly 300 people participated.
This outpouring of public support has been extremely gratifying to Terry Elvis but it has not solved the mystery, nor brought his daughter home.
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What may prove to be the first real break in this case occurred on Friday when a husband and wife were arrested Friday afternoon by the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, two months after Heather vanished.
The pair — 38-year-old Sidney St. Clair Moorer and his wife, 41-year-old Tammy Lorina Moorer, both of Myrtle Beach — were arrested Friday at 1:30 p.m., according to authorities. They were both charged with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of indecent exposure. Additional charges are pending, according to the Horry County police department.
Furthermore, according to NBC News, a forensic team is now searching the Moorers’ home.
In a statement that obfuscates as much as it reveals, the Horry County Police Department stated:
“The search warrant was executed in an attempt to identify potential evidence based on new information obtained through expert analysis of previously seized surveillance tapes in the area along with financial discrepancies filed with the State of South Carolina on behalf of the occupants of the residence.”
Although it’s impossible to know for sure what this carefully worded masterpiece of circumlocution is really trying to say, the reference to “financial discrepancies” could suggest fraud or tax fraud. As to the indecent exposure count, what that’s all about? And what does any of this have to do with Heather’s disappearance? We don’t know but hopefully we will find out soon.
In a bit of a bombshell, Fox News reports that Heather Elvis used to have a relationship with Sidney Moorer who is now in custody. Furthermore, cell phone records show that Heather and Sidney communicated on the morning of her disappearance.
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Heather is 5-foot-1 woman and weighs about 118 pounds. She has brown/auburn hair and brown eyes. There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to her being located. The family has also set up a Facebook page and a reward donation account with a PayPal account under FindHeatherElvis@gmail.com.
“Her mother, sister, brother and I are frantically grasping at all straws to find out where she is at,” Terry Elvis said. “If you know anything at all, please come forward. We just want our daughter back.”
Anyone with information about Heather Elvis should call the Horry County Police Department at (843) 915-5350 or (843)-915-TIPS (8477).
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My heart goes out to Terry and Heather Elvis, and their family, as I’m sure yours does too. This is every father and mother’s ultimate nightmare and given the fact that Heather has been missing for over two months now, I would have to be far more of an optimist than is my nature to truly believe that Heather will ever be found alive.
I’m sure I am not the only one who would like to know what the deal was between Heather and Sidney Moorer. Sidney is married to a woman twice Heather’s age and it seems strange that she would be calling him on the same morning she disappears. Of course, there may be an innocent explanation. But if there is, why are the detectives searching the Moorer residence?
Update: It has just been announced that Tammy Moorer has been charged in the kidnapping of Heather Elvis. We are following this case closely and will provider further information as it becomes available.