Podcast Summary:
Podcast: Murder: True Crime Stories
Episode: SOLVED: Mystery in Myrtle Beach 2
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Carter Roy
Episode Overview
The second and final episode in the series on the 2013 disappearance of Heather Elvis in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, takes listeners through the intense police investigation, the mounting circumstantial evidence, and the legal proceedings that followed. Host Carter Roy delves beyond the surface of the crime, focusing on the people impacted—especially Heather's family and the wider Myrtle Beach community. This episode traces how Heather’s relationships, particularly her affair with married coworker Sydney Moorer, eventually led investigators to unravel what happened in this tragic case.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Discovery of the Crime Scene and Early Investigation
[05:56 - 11:55]
- On December 19, 2013, Heather's car was found abandoned at Peachtree Landing, a secluded riverside parking lot.
- Officer Kenneth Canterbury discovered the messy vehicle and traced it to Heather’s father, Terry Elvis. Heather's parents hadn’t seen or heard from her in two days.
- Heather’s last known message was a photo sent to her father, joking that she had finally learned to drive stick.
Tracking Heather’s Last Movements
[11:55 - 14:28]
- Police interviewed Heather’s boss and coworkers at the Tilted Kilt. She was last seen on a date with Steven Giraldi, who was found to have a solid alibi.
- Attention quickly turned to another coworker—37-year-old Sydney Moorer, with whom Heather had had an affair. When pressed, Sydney contradicted himself, downplaying and then admitting recent contact with Heather.
"If something had happened to Heather, they needed to talk to her co-worker, 37-year-old Sydney Moorer."
— Carter Roy [11:10]
Investigation Intensifies on Sydney and Tammy Moorer
[15:32 - 22:22]
- Detectives analyzed Heather’s phone records; at 1:30 a.m. on December 18, she received mysterious calls from a payphone, which turned out to be placed near the Moores’ residence.
- Surveillance footage placed Sydney at the payphone. Sydney finally admitted to calling Heather but claimed it was just to tell her to leave him alone.
- Sydney’s wife, Tammy, was found to be extremely controlling. The couple had bizarre routines, including Tammy handcuffing Sydney to their bed every night and monitoring his whereabouts.
"Tammy had taken his phone and didn’t give it back to him for weeks. She also followed him everywhere, even to the odd jobs he worked as a maintenance man."
— Carter Roy [15:53]
The Community Mobilizes & Evidence Mounts
[22:22 - 27:09]
- Extensive searches, prayer vigils, and support rallied for Heather’s family, but no further clues were found.
- Police finally managed to match Sydney's Walmart purchase from the night of Heather's disappearance to a pregnancy test—a key potential motive, as rumors circulated Heather may have been pregnant with Sydney’s child.
- Cell tower analysis placed Heather at Peachtree Landing at 3:38am, where she tried to call Sydney multiple times. Shortly after, her phone powered off.
- Surveillance video from a neighbor on the route between the Moores’ house and Peachtree Landing showed a black pickup, matching the Moores’ vehicle, passing by at the critical time.
Arrests and Legal Battles
[28:35 - 40:00]
- In February 2014, police arrested Sydney and Tammy Moorer on public indecency, obstruction, and later, kidnapping and murder charges.
- Their home was found filthy—likely a tactic to obstruct searches.
- With Heather still missing and evidence largely circumstantial, prosecutors faced major hurdles. After two years, murder charges were dropped, leaving obstruction and kidnapping counts.
Forensic Breakthrough & Trials
[40:00 - 50:30]
- A forensic video analyst matched headlight patterns from the neighbor's surveillance video to the Moores’ unique F150 truck.
- Sydney’s first kidnapping trial ended in mistrial (10 jurors voted guilty; 2 held out) due to the lack of physical evidence.
- Sydney was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2017 and sentenced to 10 years.
"The jury was at an impasse—ten jurors had voted guilty, but there were two holdouts who weren’t convinced. The judge declared a mistrial."
— Carter Roy [44:57]
New Evidence and Final Convictions
[50:30 - End]
- Investigators uncovered cell records showing months of stalking by the Moores, plus a chilling statement from Tammy’s cousin that Sydney had shown him a photo of Heather that appeared to depict her dead.
- Tammy’s 2018 trial painted her as a jealous, controlling spouse, incited to violence by rumors of Heather’s pregnancy.
- Tammy was convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap and sentenced to 30 years, as was Sydney after his 2019 retrial.
- A key piece of prosecution evidence was newly discovered surveillance video showing Sydney and Tammy cleaning—and burning rags used to clean—their new truck days after Heather’s disappearance.
“The new one they’d installed after the investigator’s first visit...The video was taken on December 22. It showed Sydney and Tammy cleaning the passenger side of their brand new F150 for multiple hours. During the process, Sidney took the rags... and burned them. That sealed Sydney’s fate.”
— Carter Roy [52:49]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on. Sometimes, the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don’t always get to know the real ending.”
— Carter Roy [01:30] -
“For Heather's parents, Terry and Debbie, and her younger sister Morgan, it was devastating. The news spread like wildfire through the Horry county community, particularly on social media, which had become a battleground.”
— Carter Roy [35:12] -
"With her work, she hopes to help others avoid the long, hard road she's had to walk. As of this recording, Heather has not been found. Her family and friends still cling to the hope that someday they will find answers."
— Carter Roy [56:15]
Major Timestamps & Segments
- [05:56] – Crime scene discovered at Peachtree Landing
- [11:10] – Sydney Moorer becomes main suspect
- [15:53] – Revealing the dynamics between Sydney and Tammy
- [22:22] – Community search for Heather
- [27:39] – Circumstantial evidence builds (purchase of pregnancy test; phone records)
- [28:35] – Arrest of Sydney and Tammy
- [40:00] – Forensic headlight spread pattern analysis
- [44:57] – Sydney’s mistrial
- [50:30] – New evidence of stalking and murder plot
- [52:49] – Video footage of cleaning and burning evidence
- [56:15] – Heather remains missing, family perseveres
Final Reflections
Despite a decade of investigation and two successful kidnapping convictions, Heather Elvis’s body has never been found. Her family, especially her sister Morgan, have endured immense pain yet turned adversity into support for other missing persons through advocacy work. The case remains a watershed moment for Myrtle Beach, raising enduring questions about justice, closure, and the silent aftershocks of violent crime.
If You Have Information
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Heather Elvis is asked to contact the Horry County Police Department at 843-915-5350.
Host: Carter Roy
Produced by: Crime House & PAVE Studios
Instagram: @crimehouse
Next Episode Tease: Tune in next week for another deep dive into a compelling true crime story.