Latest news with #MyrtleBeach
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Scandalous pastor JP Miller whose wife's death shocked America remarries just one year later
Embattled South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller, whose wife's death shocked the nation 13 months ago, got remarried over the weekend. The 45-year-old tied the knot Sunday with his now-wife Suzie Skinner, 50, at an intimate beach wedding in Myrtle Beach, investigative journalist James Seidel reported. It was reportedly protected by security guards to look out for 'uninvited guests,' Robbie Harvey, a freelance reporter, posted on X. Harvey noted that the couple's seven combined children were not in attendance. News of Miller's third marriage comes as he continues to face mounting criticism over his second wife Mica Miller's suspicious death. Mica, 30, was found dead in North Carolina's Lumbee River State Park on April 27, 2024 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, days after filing for divorce from Miller. Suzie Skinner also lost her previous spouse, Chris Skinner, 41, who drowned when his wheelchair rolled into a neighborhood pool in Myrtle Beach on September 6, 2021. Although no foul play was initially suspected in Chris's case, Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard reopened the case in March after mysterious 'new evidence regarding the manner of death' came to light. Miller's first ex-wife Alison Williams filed a petition for sole custody of their children last June that included shocking claims about his sex life - including some involving Skinner and his wife. In the affidavit, Alison wrote that her then-husband began an affair with Suzie in 2021 by using their son, who played soccer with Suzie's son, to facilitate their liaisons. She claimed her children were 'well-aware' of the affair, which their friends also gossiped about - causing them 'a tremendous amount of embarrassment.' 'When I learned [John-Paul] was exposing our children to yet another one of his adulterous affairs, I confronted JP and Suzie and told them not to let it happen again,' she wrote. Alison divorced Miller in 2015 after discovering he was having an affair with Mica, whom he married in 2018. It's not known if his alleged 2021 affair with Suzie ended before Mica's death. 'JP called me the day Suzie's husband died in an alleged drowning accident extremely upset and asking me to pray, which was incredibly bizarre,' Alison continued in the lawsuit. 'Based on information and belief, just two weeks prior to [Skinner's death], Suzie's husband had confronted JP and asked him to leave his wife and children alone. 'It is chilling to know that the spouses of both Suzie and JP are now dead, from tragic events.' Chris's sister Tamra McDermott said Suzie called Miller to the scene soon after his body was discovered in the pool. She said the reopening of the investigation into her brother's death was partly prompted by new witnesses giving contradictory evidence to what Suzie and others told police at the time. 'When looking at the police reports and coroner reports, it is clear there was some inconsistency. Also, it was acknowledged that some of what was said at the scene may be inaccurate,' she previously told Tamra said her brother fell out of the pastor's church, Solid Rock Ministries, and with Miller himself, about four or five months before his death, after having worshipped there without issue since 2018. 'Chris definitely voiced that he did not like the pastor of that church and he did stop going to church there,' she said. 'He was in some emotional pain, and he was having a hard time... he was pulling away and distancing himself.' This period of time is understood to be a focus in the re-investigation. Mica, Miller's second wife, contacted police several times in the months preceding her suicide to level allegations against her husband, including claims he 'groomed' her when he was a teenager. He has vehemently denied any allegations of grooming and abuse. He has also previously suggested Mica suffered from mental illness and attempted suicide on more than one occasion. Mica and Miller initially split on September 20, 2023, before the divorce was dismissed on February 13. Later that same month Miller filed against his wife for separate support and maintenance in a motion withdrawn March 11. But on April 15, just 12 days before she was found dead, Mica filed for divorce once more and sought a no contact order against her husband. They split for the second time on February 6. Miller has also been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl and displaying a continued pattern of 'sexual abuse and predatory conduct for years,' according to lawsuit from February. Miller allegedly attacked the teen, known only as Jane Doe, in 1998 while at his father's church, the filing stated. In a 43-page complaint filed in Horry County Circuit Court, the unidentified woman accused Miller of raping and inappropriately touching her. The last incident occurred as recently as 2023, the woman said, with Miller accused of grabbing her genitals in public which triggered 'repressed memories.' Those repressed memories are alleged to be an assault by Miller that occurred in 1998, when she was 15 and he was 19. In the suit, it said that the trauma of that earlier alleged assault was 'deeply buried' and that Jane Doe had 'no conscious recollection of the assault.' She had been attending Sunday school at Miller's father's church when she said he forced her into his father's office, and shut the door behind him. Miller is said to have 'immediately' become 'aggressive' and 'physically overpowering' against her. After a struggle and pleading with him to stop, Miller led her from the office to outside the church, the suit claims. The woman alleged that she was forced into his truck and raped. The suit stated she was a virgin at the time.
Condé Nast Traveler
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach: South Carolina's Historic Vacation Enclave
For some, the best things to do in Myrtle Beach may conjure images of rowdy spring breakers and souvenir shops—but look a little closer and you'll find a coastal escape with far more dimension and charm. Stretching along South Carolina's Grand Strand coastline, this 60-mile span of picturesque Atlantic shoreline has been a vacation haven since the early 1900s, and these days is quietly evolving into a destination where elevated cuisine, design-focused hotels, and outdoor adventure take center stage. It's where you can start your morning kayaking through marshy inlets, spend the afternoon touring sculpture gardens or sipping craft beer on the beach, and cap off the evening with a sunset view of the ocean over oysters, rosé, and live music. Whether you're a first-timer drawn to the bustle of the boardwalk, a family looking for a place that boasts ample activities for kids and adults alike, or a return traveler looking off the beaten path for more local gems beyond the surf shops, Myrtle Beach is full of surprises. Here's our guide to this highly misunderstood Southern beach town. Explore the vintage-looking boardwalk means following the smells of fried shrimp and cotton candy to one of the many beach bars lining the promenade. MUSE Getting here (and around) Myrtle Beach is easily accessible whether you're flying into Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) or driving via scenic highways like U.S. Route 17 (the Coastal Highway) and South Carolina Highways 22 and 31 (Veterans Highway and Carolina Bays Parkway). It's also easy to Uber, Lyft, or taxi around town. For a more budget option, you can hop on and off the Coast RTA's comprehensive bus system, which offers 10 Grand Strand area routes, including free shuttles to popular spots. For a more relaxed pace, renting a golf cart or bike at Boardwalk Bikes lets you explore coastal roads and charming neighborhoods at your leisure. Things to do in Myrtle Beach The best way to soak up the morning light and get your bearings on the boardwalk is with a ride on the SkyWheel, where the Atlantic stretches endlessly in every direction from over 187 feet. From inside a climate-controlled gondola (helpful in the hot summer months), the city's famed boardwalk looks more like a vintage postcard from above: pastel-colored arcades, rolled ice cream stands, and the vast, glimmering stretch of Grand Strand beach on the horizon. Open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, this family-friendly attraction books up quickly during peak season. Afterwards, explore the boardwalk, following the smells of fried shrimp and cotton candy to one of the many beach bars lining the promenade. Start with a local brew at New South Brewing, like the quirky Fruit Loops wheat beer or Dirty Myrtle double IPA. If another drink calls you, grab a mixed cocktail at 8th Avenue Tiki Bar before catching some live music (starting at 4 pm) at Tin Roof, where the rooftop views compete only with the people-watching below. If gaming is more your speed, stop into the Fun Plaza Arcade to try your hand at a mix of both vintage and retro games, as well as some new ones. Stretching along 60 miles of South Carolina's Grand Strand coastline, Myrtle Beach has been a vacation haven since the 1920s when it exploded with golf courses and resorts. Getty Images Brookgreen Gardens, a short drive south to Murrells Inlet, is set on a former rice plantation. The 9,100-acre property is part botanical garden, open-air art museum, and zoo. But Myrtle Beach is more than the constant buzz. For a quieter, more local stretch of sand, drive north to Cherry Grove Beach, a peaceful haven where families gather for picnics and locals cast fishing lines off the iconic Cherry Grove Pier. The pace is slower here, and you'll find more locals than tourists. Just inland, the salt marshes begin to weave through the landscape, creating an entirely different portrait of the varied South Carolina landscape. Enjoy the marshland up close with a Great Escapes Kayak Tour. Offering guided paddleboard and kayak tours, these explorations introduce you to the many tidal creeks of Waties Island, offering a front-row seat to a part of Myrtle Beach few tourists ever see. Ensure your camera or phone is handy to capture the blue herons nesting in the reeds or the cute fiddler crabs darting across the mud flats. Carve out a few hours for Brookgreen Gardens, a short drive south to Murrells Inlet. Set on a former rice plantation, this 9,100-acre property is part botanical garden, open-air art museum, and zoo. Between the water lilies, adorable sea lions, and bronze sculptures, it's a quiet counterpoint and true natural oasis to the more touristy side of town. In summer, the gardens stay open later for their Summer Light Series, where curated installations illuminate against thousands of twinkling lights throughout the property. The gardens will feature famed glassblower Craig Mitchell Smith, who donated over 25 glass sculptures to the exhibit this summer. Sunset drinks at The Hangout feel more like an outdoor party than a restaurant. Go for the world-famous Shark Attack or a Southern Mai Tai. Unsplash Bimini's Oyster Bar & Seafood Market is a must for fresh oysters on the half shell, crispy fried seafood, and spicy Cajun crab cakes. Where to eat Come golden hour, you'd be remiss not to grab a drink at The Hangout, which feels more like a block party than a restaurant. Flanking their dining room is an expansive courtyard home to sand and foam pits, yard games, retail shopping, and live music stages. To eat, their signature Hangout Nachos, layered with melted cheddar, fresh pico de gallo, and jalapeños, are a crowd favorite, as is the Hangout Burger—a juicy patty topped with cheddar and crispy onion rings. Order the seafood gumbo with shrimp and smoked sausage to get an authentic taste of the Carolinas.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tourists visit downtown Myrtle Beach despite recent violence. What they said
Three-year-old Kashtyn Grogan hoists up a new set of toy tools he won for 2,500 tickets at the Fun Plaza on Ocean Boulevard. His mom Kaitlyn Grogan browses the prizes to budget the 1,600 extra tickets her son won at the Willy Wonka game. He and his two younger brothers are on vacation at Myrtle Beach for the start of the summer. Friday evening kicked off with a stormy start, with winds powerful enough to tear down fences surrounding the Pavilion Park and knock over trash cans. Many visitors sought refuge in local restaurants or their hotel rooms before the night got started after the sun set, when dozens of young people walked up and down the boulevard to play arcade games, eat funnel cake, and gawk at the modified trucks cruising down the traffic funnel. 'You don't even remember me,' Kaitlyn Speaks shouted at an employee at an airbrush T-shirt vendor. Speaks goes to Myrtle Beach every year, she said. She's downtown for a girls' trip and a wedding with her friend Emma Mullins as she brushes off another sales pitch from the persistent employee. 'We're beefing with him right now,' Mullins said as she scoops up a bite of funnel cake. The employee threw up his hands and turned to coax more passers-by for a sale. They all walk on and wish him a nice night. 'Y'all want a T-shirt?' he said. 'I'm just bored as hell.' Soon after, Issac Shinault from Greensboro, NC, cruises by on a Onewheel electric skateboard and a bucket of roses. He rolls up and down the boulevard handing them out to children, and even one of the shopkeepers waves him down with a dollar in hand. 'I'm just here to spread positivity,' he said. 'There's never a bad reason for flowers.' Henry and Cheryl Seaborn from St. Louis, MO, joke with each other as they meander down the boardwalk. They said they feel safe while walking downtown. 'It can't be worse than Washington, D.C.,' Henry Seaborn said. 'I ain't seen too many criminal-looking people around here.' 'Speak for yourself,' Cheryl Seaborn said. Grogan said her family has paid attention to when the bike week comes to town. 'If we were here last week with what happened in Little River, I would not feel safe,' she said and pointed to her two sons in a beach cart. Myrtle Beach Police officers patrolled the streets after dark. They're keeping a watchful eye out for any commotion and offering directions to families and summer party-goers. There was a tragedy not too long ago on the strip where these families visit. Business has been much slower since April, one shop employee lamented. This time last year, many more people were coming into his shop, he said. On April 26 at 11:50 p.m., 18-year-old Jerrius Davis fired his gun on North Ocean Boulevard near 9th Avenue North. A Myrtle Beach Police officer returned fire, hitting and killing the Bennettsville teenager. The Myrtle Beach Police Department released dash cam footage of the incident on May 29. The footage showed Davis bending over to reach for a gun and firing it into a crowd. He was then pursued within seconds by Officer Brandon O'Rourke, who is shown firing his gun five times and killing Davis while running down Ocean Boulevard as Davis fled into a crowd. The incident injured 11 people. It is unclear what victims were injured by Davis' gunfire or O'Rourke's. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is still investigating the incident. O'Rourke and two other officers who responded to the incident, Mohamad El-Kelwi and Jeramiah Johnson were put on paid leave during the investigation and have since been put back on the job, according to a video released by Myrtle Beach police. Two of the people injured in the incident include 13-year-old Zavian Hairston of Virginia and 15-year-old Serenity Chavis of North Carolina. Chavis has claimed Myrtle Beach police shot her that night.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
After shootings in Myrtle Beach, here's a look at what the downtown ambassadors do
Steady foot traffic along Ocean Boulevard in the early evening hours on Friday before the thunderstorm was met by men in yellow polo shirts. Those men are Gold Cap Ambassadors, a taxpayer funded program by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance, and they were doing their job to keep the main drag of Ocean Boulevard between 9th and 16th Avenues clean. Carrying plastic buckets and armed with trash pickers, the ambassadors made their way up and down Ocean Boulevard picking up food wrappers, napkins and cigarette butts. A golf cart in the same color yellow as the polo shirts was parked right in front of the SkyWheel, and was utilized to drive the filled trash buckets away. While the ambassadors were walking around Ocean Boulevard early on Friday evening, there was no visible Myrtle Beach Police Department presence, including officers, cars or golf carts. Just before 6 p.m. an unmarked black Dodge with a uniform officer drove southbound along Ocean Boulevard. Two of the four out on Friday wore 'ambassador-in-training' shirts. They both declined to comment when asked about their new jobs. A third gold cap ambassador also declined to comment when approached by The Sun News. John Pellish, was picking up garbage just before 6 p.m. across the street from the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. Originally from Pennsylvania, Pellish said he's been an ambassador since this past February and has lived in Myrtle Beach for the past three years. 'I like it down here and I like to see the city clean,' he said when asked why he wanted to become an ambassador. During a typical shift, Pellish said he picks a zone downtown and takes a plastic gallon bucket and a trash picker and cleans up leftover litter. 'We talk to everybody, help the homeless if they want it and watch out for everybody,' he said about the community interaction part of his job. If there's an emergency downtown, Pellish said he and all the other ambassadors have a radio that they can call back to their headquarters. From there, he said, someone at the main offices on the other end of the radio will call the police. Concerns about safety along Ocean Boulevard have escalated after the busy summer season started with multiple shootings and violent crime events. In the wake of the events, questions arose about how safe downtown Myrtle Beach really is and what safety measures are taxpayer funded. In addition to paying for Myrtle Beach Police Department officers to patrol downtown and implement a flushing traffic pattern to make way for emergency vehicles, taxpayers are also funding the Ambassadors program through the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance. The program was started five years ago in 2020 with the goals of improving the cleanliness and safety perceptions of downtown Myrtle Beach. 'Their duties do not replace any city services or supplement police, rather work as an extra set of eyes and ears for our multiple levels of enforcement including the police but also code enforcement and public works,' a job description of the gold cap ambassadors reads on a city-run website. At a Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance board meeting earlier this month on May 15, board members approved their budget for the next fiscal year, pending the approval of the City of Myrtle Beach's final budget by the city council. According to a slide at the meeting, the ambassadors walk approximately eight miles a day during their shift. On Friday and Saturday night, the MBDA has five ambassadors on shift from 1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Many of the violent crimes committed downtown this summer have occurred after 10 p.m., according to previous reporting. A large chunk of the MBDA's budget is devoted to increasing the number of gold cap ambassadors downtown by four for the 2026 fiscal year. In April, the MBDA spent $54,473.62 on the ambassador program. In 2025 through the end of April, the MBDA spent $534,101.09 on the ambassadors, making it the organization's second largest expense of the year behind management and overhead. The program will be increasing its cost by 34%, a slide at the MBDA budget meeting showed. That will increase the cost to almost a million dollars, or $877,564.99, with the addition of four extra ambassadors to help serve the south end of downtown. In total, the MBDA's fiscal year budget for 2026 is $2,386,128.84, meeting documents stated. MBDA spokesperson Michelle Cantey said after the meeting that the expansion plans were already in place before the fatal North Ocean Boulevard shooting on April 26. She added that gold cap ambassadors are not a replacement for law enforcement downtown, but are meant to answer questions and be a friendly presence.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Myrtle Beach employees say armed teenagers disrupt tourist district
Teenagers and young adults who come to downtown Myrtle Beach to party have become a public safety issue, business owners and employees said. The group will walk up and down the strip while not patronizing businesses, said a beach store owner who we will call Tom. He spoke on the condition of anonymity. The teenagers, who bring their guns, stand in front of his building and block customers while often drinking and smoking cigarettes or marijuana. Tom stated he feared retaliation from city officials if he spoke out against the city leaders. Other store owners declined to be interviewed, citing the same reason. At best, these teens are an annoyance; at worst, they are unpredictable young adults with deadly weapons. On April 26 at about 11:50 p.m., Jerrius Davis, 18, shot four rounds into a group on North Ocean Boulevard near Mr. Fries, a Myrtle Beach Police video shows. In response, officer Brandon O'Rourke shot five rounds, which killed the Bennettsville teenager. In total, 11 people were hurt in the shooting. It's unclear how many injuries were caused by Davis, as at least one person said she was allegedly shot by a Myrtle Beach police officer, The Sun News reported. When The Sun News asked employees if downtown feels safe or dangerous, we got a variety of responses. One gift shop employee said he is from New York City and he has seen much worse, while Tom said people have flashed their guns at him in a threatening manner. 'It's kids with weapons, guns, thinking they can do whatever they want, that they are immune. It has a strong effect on the locals,' Tom said. Downtown employees had different responses on the crime in downtown Myrtle Beach and the city's reaction. Some applauded the local police officers, stating that they respond quickly when the boulevard turns ugly, while others blamed the increase in police presence for a drop in sales. The traffic loop, which shuts down the left-bound lane of North Ocean Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights, is the most controversial. Gustavo Alonso, who works at a gift shop on North Ocean Boulevard, said closing the lane causes the store to lose customers but he also does not blame police. 'I can't think of something else to do,' Alonso said. Other employees, who declined to give their names, said the increased number of officers may scare away vacationers. There were a few police officers out at 6 p.m., but more appeared as the night went on. Tom and Keko Henry, the manager at Shopicana Resort Wear, said they have been working with police to improve safety. For example, officers advised them to leave their lights on at night to deter people from standing outside the stores after hours. Depending on the night, some stores will close early. Alonso said if it is too rowdy, he will shut down the store. 'During these times, we'd be closing around 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock. But since spring break, we have been closing at like 10 o'clock. 11 o'clock is pushing it,' Tom said. The summer season has not begun, but Tom and Alonso said they have fewer customers than normal, although they do not blame this on the recent shooting. Tom said his sales had been declining prior to the shooting. This is again blamed on the crowds. Alonso said he worries the large crowds of young people may scare away other tourists. Tom and Alonso also blamed their lack of sales on the ban on vapes and drug paraphernalia in downtown Myrtle Beach. They said CBD products and pipes used to be popular items. In an attempt to make the city more family-friendly in 2018, city council voted to ban the sale of these items on Ocean Boulevard from 6th Avenue South to 16th Avenue North, The Sun News reported. In a press conference following the April shooting, Myrtle Beach Mayor Bethune said she does not want cheap motel rooms and sexually explicit T-shirts attracting the wrong kind of person to the city. Tom disagreed with this, stating that inappropriate t-shirts are not the real issue. 'I don't think any business selling a shirt that says 'I heart country boys' or 'Henny-thing can happen' or any of those sorts is affecting what's going on out there,' Tom said. 'What needs to be monitored is kids are walking around drunk with bottles of liquor.'
