The Journal.

Camp Swamp Road Ep. 4: That’s What Heaven Is For

Date: October 5, 2025
Host: Valerie Borlein (for The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios)

Overview

The fourth and final episode of “Camp Swamp Road” unpacks the fallout after newly uncovered evidence points to systemic police misconduct in the handling of Scott Spivey's fatal shooting. As Scott’s sister, Jennifer Foley, campaigns for justice, the episode explores institutional responses, state and local politics, the interpretation of South Carolina’s stand your ground law, and how similar laws impact homicide rates across America. The narrative weaves personal pain, public outrage, and the implications for future cases, culminating in an exploration of what justice and accountability truly mean.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shocking Evidence and Internal Police Investigations

• Discovery of the “Act Like a Victim” Note

  • Jennifer Foley uncovers 90 police phone calls and surveillance video, revealing officers’ attempts to coach the accused and cover up police misconduct.
  • [04:05] Notable moment: Sgt. Damon Viscovy writes and shows a notepad to Boyd and Williams:

    “ACT LIKE A VICTIM CAMERA”

  • The footage, found by a Luna Shark Media journalist, leads to Viscovy’s abrupt firing [07:14].

• Police Misconduct and Fallout

  • Horry County Police Chief Chris Lenhart terminates more officers, investigates missing and mislabeled body/dash cam footage.
  • Internal and state-level probes commence as video evidence emerges of officers instructing suspects and turning cameras off for hours [07:43].
  • Lenhart:

    “We have discovered... seven additional videos that were improperly labeled... reviewed and sent over to SLED.” ([07:26])

2. Public Outcry and Jennifer Foley’s Advocacy

• Rallying the Community and Speaking to Local Government

  • Jennifer addresses a packed Horry County Council, describing her brother’s treatment and the mishandling of evidence [11:46]:

    “The words hanging over the door... read ‘Professionals at Work.’ For my family, these words carry a hollow meaning.”

  • Scott’s body was left in his truck for six hours, then photographed during impoundment [12:04].
  • Big emotional moment as Jennifer recalls Boyd’s confession:

    “Emboy’s own admission in his tape to his mother: ‘Scott knew he was being followed. He just ran me off the road. I chased him.’ … Imagine being chased down and somebody telling you this is a stand your ground case.” ([12:28])

• Increasing Political Support

  • Local lawmakers, e.g., Rep. Lucas Atkinson, argue this wasn’t stand your ground, but murder [14:13]:

    “It’s just hard for me to believe.”

  • Nine legislators write the governor asking the case be reopened.
  • Public pressure and social media campaigns intensify.

3. Stand Your Ground Law Under Fire – Political and Legal Responses

• Governor Henry McMaster Interview [15:24]

  • Discusses intent behind stand your ground law, expressing concern about its possible misuse in Spivey’s case:

    “It would be a unusual circumstance to have a law that's intended to do something good that could be used for such an injustice... I think they're entitled to some answers.” ([16:42])

• South Carolina Attorney General Allen Wilson Interview [22:03, 24:20]

  • Defends decision not to reopen case, focusing solely on Boyd’s state of mind at the moment of shooting, as heard on 911, not after-the-fact phone calls:

    “The closest we can get to Mr. Boyd’s state of mind is what he’s saying in real time on 911...” ([25:29])

  • Dismisses police misconduct as irrelevant to stand your ground analysis:

    “Two things can be true at once. Law enforcement does something bad... but does that change the facts of what Mr. Boyd perceived at the time?” ([29:06])

  • On criticism and politics:

    “This is not a pro-Boyd or anti-Spivey decision... prosecutors reviewed facts, law, made a dispassionate decision, as we were to do, without any regard for politics.” ([30:42])

• Political Fallout and National Context

  • Congresswoman Nancy Mace leverages the issue against Wilson in the governor’s race, vocally supporting the Spivey family ([23:02]).
  • Jennifer warns:

    “If that’s what he’s going to say, then literally every murder case in the state... can just say, ‘I was in fear for my life, so I shot.’” ([31:11])

  • Valerie notes broader trends: Stand your ground laws have led to a documented increase in homicides ([33:33]), “murder insurance” industry, and innumerable uninvestigated shootings.

4. The Civil Suit and What Comes Next

• Upcoming Wrongful Death Lawsuit Hearing [35:38]

  • Judge Eugene C. “Bubba” Griffith Jr. will rule if immunity applies for Boyd and Williams.
  • Jennifer:

    “Best case scenario is the judge says this doesn’t qualify for stand your ground... Worst case... [they] receive criminal and civil immunity. My wrongful death case is dismissed. It squashes everything.” ([35:11])

• Defense Attorney Morgan Martin’s View [36:13]

  • Reiterates support for his client Bradley Williams:

    “He was clearly acting in self defense and so I want to defend him.”

  • On police misconduct:

    “Some... comments were unfortunate... but that doesn’t change the facts of what happened.” ([37:26])

5. Grief, Unanswered Questions, and Legacy

• Jennifer’s Reflections on Loss [40:24, 41:12]
  • Struggles to make sense of Scott’s behavior that day and to process grief while fighting the system.
  • Emotional closing:

    “You can’t grieve if you’re always fighting. The steps don’t exist... Sometimes I break down because I think... why did this have to happen to you? Why can’t people do the right thing?” ([41:12], [41:31])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sgt. Viscovy instructs suspects:

  “ACT LIKE A VICTIM CAMERA” [04:05]

• Jennifer’s outrage on police misconduct:

  "How can these people live with themselves?... And say, I did a good job today..." [04:21]

• Rep. Lucas Atkinson’s summary:

  “It wasn’t stand your ground; it was murder, in my opinion.” [14:13]

• Gov. McMaster’s concern:

  “You got a dead man for no good reason. That’s not good... That’s what heaven’s for.” [17:33]

• Allen Wilson’s reliance on 911 calls for intent:

  “The closest we can get to Mr. Boyd’s state of mind is what he’s saying in real time on 911...” [25:29]

• Jennifer’s warning on precedent:

  "You're literally opening up Pandora's box... If you're saying this is okay, get ready because you're going to have a lot more cases." [31:33]

• Jennifer on her family’s experience:

  “I'm advocating for my mama's son. He was somebody that was loved... He deserved to have due process. My family deserved to have due process.” [40:36]

• Jennifer on her inability to grieve:

  “You can't grieve if you're always fighting.” [41:12]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:56–04:16: Jennifer discovers evidence of police coaching and corruption.
• 06:42–08:38: Police chief holds press conference, fires officers, launches further investigation into mishandled evidence.
• 11:15–13:35: Jennifer addresses the Horry County Council, receives standing ovation.
• 14:07–15:23: State legislators campaign for the case to be reopened.
• 15:24–17:11: Interview with Governor McMaster.
• 22:03–31:11: Interview with Attorney General Allen Wilson; focus on state of mind, legal interpretations, politics.
• 33:32–34:56: National impact of stand your ground laws and increase in homicides.
• 35:11–38:42: Details and stakes of Jennifer’s wrongful death lawsuit; defense attorney’s perspective.
• 39:13–42:21: Jennifer’s personal grief and account of the struggle for justice.

Conclusion

This episode weaves the Spivey family’s pursuit of justice with the unraveling of law enforcement misconduct, political self-interest, and the far-reaching consequences of “stand your ground” laws. Despite public and legislative attention, legal obstacles remain formidable. The episode closes on Jennifer Foley’s unresolved grief, the impending civil hearing, and the broader question of how laws intended to protect can be twisted, leaving victims’ families searching for accountability.

Listeners are encouraged to follow further reporting on The Journal podcast and The Wall Street Journal for updates on both the Spivey case and the national discussion around self-defense and stand your ground laws.