The Disappearance of Heather Elvis

I have heard about this case a few times, I believe I watched a Dateline episode. I just recently watched the ID show about it titled Disappeared in the Darkness: An ID Mystery. I had many thoughts while watching it, first was these people who did this to her are disgusting, especially the wife Tammy. Heather didn’t deserve to be kidnapped and probably murdered, and her family still needs closure.

Background

Heather Elvis was just 20 years old when she disappeared. She graduated from high school in 2011, she attended St. James High School in Horry County, South Carolina. She was working at the Tilted Kilt and House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, and she was also studying cosmetology, which her mom said she had such a passion for.

Sidney Moorer

In 2013, while Heather was working at the Tilted Kilt, she met Sidney. Sidney was hired to do maintenance work, and he was a 38 year old married father. Heather started talking about her interest in Sidney to her co-workers, especially her co-worker/roommate, Bri. Heather said she was interested in having a “sexual” relationship with him.

Heather and Sidney’s relationship only lasted a few months, because Tammy (Sidney’s wife) found out about it and started harassing Heather.

Text messages

Tammy first made Sidney contact Heather to end their relationship. Bri said that Heather told her that Sidney said she was:

““nothing to me ... just someone who spread your legs”.”

Bri said this made Heather feel really bad about herself.

Tammy started harassing Heather over text messages and had asked her “are you ready to meet the Mrs.” Tammy also made Sidney tattoo her name above his crotch, and she would handcuff him to the bed so he couldn’t leave.

Tammy also tried to get Heather fired from the Tilted Kilt, and would call there non-stop. Heather had reached out to Sidney to tell her to stop, she told him that she was losing hours because they sent her home. For awhile, they didn't have any communication because Sidney and Tammy took their kids to Disneyland and came back a few days before Heather disappeared.

Disappearance

Heather was moving on with her life. She had just gotten a job at a beauty shop in Myrtle Beach, and had a date with a new man.

On December 17th, she had a date with a man named Steven Schiraldi, who had a thing for her since high school. They had driven around, and he was teaching her how to drive stick shift, she even sent a picture to her dad that night. Steven dropped Heather off at 1:15am on December 18th.

About 20 minutes later, Heather got a call from a pay phone. It was later revealed to be Sidney. He told her he was planning to meet his wife, and wanted to see her. Heather had called her roommate, Bri who was out of town and Bri said Heather was “hysterical,” and she told her not to go.

Heather has not been heard from or seen since 1:45am on December 18th.

Investigation

On December 19th, Heather’s car was found at Peachtree Landing. She drove a green 2001 Dodge Interprid, it was registered to her dad, Terry Elvis. Her car was found parked at a weird angle, her keys, purse and phone were missing.

They put out a missing person report. The only other suspect was Steven, since he was the last one to see her. He was cleared immediately.

Cell phone records

Cell phone calls and text messages were and still are the most important evidence in this case (along with survillance footage).

At 2:30am, it showed that Heather’s phone had called the pay phone that Sidney had used, but that no one answered. They never determined who actually made the call off Heather’s phone. About 15 minutes later, it shows that Heather’s phone called Sidney again, near the Moorer home. At 3;37am, the phone pinged near Peachtree Landing. At 3:41am, it calls again and then after this attempt, Heather’s phone is never used again.

Tammy and Sidney’s phone were also looked at, and they never contacted each other from November 2nd to December 18th at 4:37am.

Surveillance footage

Sidney was seen on camera at Walmart at 1:12am, he bought cigars and a pregnancy test.

Heather’s co-workers said that before she disappeared she had put on some weight. Heather’s boss, who was interviewed in the ID show, said she was in charge of the uniforms at the Tilted Kilt. It was a bra, shirt and skirt. She said Heather went from needing an A-cup to a C-cup. It was believed that Sidney could have been buying the pregnancy test for Heather, but Tammy later said it was for her.

Sidney was also seen at a Kangaroo gas station, using the payphone. The security footage is SUPER grainy, but I guess they determined it was Sidney based on the cell phone pings.

The Mooreres drove a black F-150 truck. A dark colored truck is seen driving in the direction of Peachtree Landing at 3:36 and 3:39am. The same truck is seen heading the other direction at 3:45 and 3:46am.

Arrests

The first people to be arrested in connection with this case was not Sidney or Tammy. It was people by the name of William Barrett and Garrett Starnes. The police said they posted some false leads social media, and the police wasted their time on those leads and came up with nothing. They were arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.

On February 21st, Sidney and Tammy were both arrested after their home was searched. They were arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, obstruction of justice and two counts of indecent exposure. They had apparently taken explicit pictures of themselves in public areas. (They seem classy, don’t they?)

While they were out on bond, Tammy posted some terrible and nasty words about Heather to her Facebook. She called Heather a whore and a stalker. Somehow, these people also had a lot of support, and there were rumors of all kinds about what happened to Heather, including some asshole saying Heather’s father killed her.

They were also allowed to moved to Florida, because they were being “harassed” and couldn’t find work.

Trial #1

The first trial was in June 2016, and it was to determine whether or not Sidney kidapped her.

Heather’s co-workers, and her roommate testified about her affair with Sidney, and whether or not she was pregnant. They also showed the cell phone records and security footage. The jury was taken to Peachtree Landing and to the Moorer home.

The jury deliberated for 7 hours, it was a hung jury 7-2, so it was declared a mistrial.

Trial #2

The second trial was about a year later. Sidney was tried again, this time on a obstruction charge.

They showed the same cell records and security footage. They also focused on how Sidney lied about making the phone call to Heather, when the evidence clearly showed he did.

Tammy’s cousin also testified, he said that he and Sidney were outside smoking and that Sidney showed him a picture of Heather “not being able to talk or move.” This was shown on the ID show. Sidney’s attorney attacked him on the stand for being a known drug user, and pretty much called him a liar on the stand. The police also searched the Moorer computer/phones, and they found several pictures and that pictured he described was never found.

Sidney was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. In April 2018, a jury also indicted Sidney and Tammy to one count of conspiracy to kidnap.

Below are some of the text messages and surveillance.

Trial #3

In October 2018, Tammy went on trial for the charges of drawing national media attention. (Honestly, I didn't even know this was a thing). It was said that Tammy kidnaped and probably killed Heather because she was jealous of Heather being pregnant.

Her Facebook post was also brought up, she also said that Heather was stalking her whole family. Apparently, Tammy also beat up Sidney after she found out about the affair, Sidney’s own mother testified to that.

It was also brought up that Tammy had a young lover of her own. She had sent explicit messages to him and even said “so, when do you turn 19.”

Tammy testified at her trial, and she tried to blame everything on other people. She tried to say that she wasn’t upset about the affair, she was mad about Heather stalking her and her kids. She also said she never hit or controlled Sidney, and the handcuffs were a part of “roleplaying.”

A video was also shown at trial of Tammy and Sidney cleaning their truck. They had surveillance footage in their home. According to the police, it was 3 hours long.

After 4 hours and an 11 day trial, Tammy was found guilty. She was sentence to two 30 year sentences, and they were asked to run concurrently.

*Tammy and Sidney. They look lovely, don't they?*

Other

Heather’s dad, Terry Elvis went to court for a contempt charge. He had apparently threatened Tammy’s lawyer, Casey Moore in the bathroom of the courthouse. Terry denied he used abusive language, and also said Moore was in the bathroom that was supposed to be used by the Elvis Family. Terry was found guilty and fined $400.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This case actually pisses me off, and does so every time I watch or hear about it. Tammy is DISGUSTING, her language, and the way she controlled her husband. I’m not saying Sidney wasn't just as involved, but I think Tammy was the ringleader. It’s also disgusting how she stalked, harassed Heather, and tried to say it was Heather who did that.

I hope they rot in jail forever, but I hope that they tell the Elvis’ family where Heather’s body is, they at least deserve to put their daughter to rest. I doubt they’ll ever talk, because they clearly have no heart.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Heather_Elvis

https://people.com/crime/friend-missing-heather-elvis-speak-out/

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/sidney-moorer-gets-30-years-for-kidnapping-heather-elvis