Human remains in Florida not linked to Heather Elvis case

Human remains found in Florida and at first thought to be linked to the investigation of the disappearance of Heather Elvis are not from her, authorities said.

Horry County police contacted the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in March after the remains were discovered there, Horry County police Lt. Robert Kegler said at the time.

Heather Elvis was last seen the night of Dec. 17 and last heard from early Dec. 18, according to authorities. She was reported missing Dec. 19 after Horry County police found her car, which was registered to her father, parked at the Peachtree boat landing. Elvis’ keys, cellphone and purse were not found in the locked car and she is still missing.

On Friday, Gary Davidson, a public information officer for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that officials ruled the remains were not Heather Elvis.

“Yes, we’ve pretty well concluded it’s not her,” Davidson said. “Heather Elvis went missing approximately three months before the remains were found here. The experts who’ve examined the remains are confident that they’re older than three months.”

Horry County officials were investigating the remains possibly being the 20-year-old because prosecutors said during a bond hearing for the couple charged with murder and kidnapping in Elvis’ disappearance that the couple’s travels included trips to Florida around the time she disappeared.

Tammy Moorer, 42, and her husband Sidney Moorer, 38, both of Myrtle Beach each was charged Feb. 24 with murder and kidnapping in Elvis’ death. Circuit Court Judge Steven John has denied bond for the couple on those charges and they each remain jailed.

There are pending motions filed last week and in September for prosecutors to produce evidence to Kirk Truslow, Sidney Moorer’s attorney, and a motion for a speedy trial filed by Tammy Moorer’s attorney, Greg McCollum.

It is unclear when hearings for those motions will be held.

On March 21, Circuit Court Judge Steven John signed a gag order, which prohibits any prosecutors, defense attorneys or their staffs and members of law enforcement, who have investigated the case, to publicly speak or release documents regarding the case.

During a March 17 bond hearing for the couple, prosecutors pointed to cellphone records and video surveillance to build their case against Tammy and Sidney Moorer. But defense attorneys said the evidence is circumstantial, with no link to tie the couple to Elvis’ disappearance.

An Horry County grand jury returned indictments March 21 against the Moorers on the murder and kidnapping charges, according to court records.

In May, John denied Tammy Moorer’s second request for bond on the charges of murder and kidnapping. She had petitioned the court to set a bond saying she is pregnant and was concerned about her health while jailed.

But Donna Elder, a senior assistant solicitor who prosecuted the case at that time, said there was no evidence to show Tammy Moorer was pregnant because she had refused to take prenatal vitamins, be examined by a doctor or take another pregnancy test to confirm her condition.

In June, state officials charged the couple with making a false statement on an application for Medicaid and obtaining a signature or property under false pretenses with a value of $10,000 or more, authorities said.

The couple also face two counts of indecent exposure and one count of obstructing justice, according to court records.

Bail on the indecent exposure charges is set at $20,000 for Tammy Moorer, while bail was denied on the obstruction of justice and making false statements, according to records at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Bail is set at $85,000 for Sidney Moorer on the false pretenses, obstruction of justice and indecent exposure charges, according to jail records.

The couple remain at the detention center.

This story was originally published October 31, 2014 at 8:57 AM.