Family, friends gather at afternoon Heather Elvis vigil

Candles were lit and prayers were said all before the sun ducked behind trees Wednesday afternoon.

Fourteen months after Heather Elvis’ disappearance, supporters still gather for her, no matter the weather. Debbi Elvis, Heather’s mother, said she continues to set up a table and hand out prayer bookmarks “just in case somebody needs the vigil.”

“People were here for me when I needed them,” she said. “I will be here for them, whenever, if they need me.”

Several family members and friends gathered at Peachtree Landing in Socastee Wednesday afternoon to pray for Heather Elvis. There have been at least 11 vigils since Elvis disappeared. Unlike past vigils, this drop-in style event was held in the afternoon so people who work at night had an opportunity to show support.

“People couldn’t always come in the evenings, especially Heather’s friends who work in the restaurants in the evening,” Elvis said. “So rather than organizing a formal thing, we’ve been having these times where people can just drop in.”

Heather Elvis, who was 20 at the time, was reported missing Dec. 19, 2013, after Horry County police found her car, which was registered to her father, parked at the Peachtree boat landing. Her keys, cellphone and purse were not found in the locked car and she remains missing. Police have charged Tammy and Sidney Moorer with kidnapping and murder related to Elvis’ disappearance.

Linda Haley, Surfside Beach resident, said she has been working with the Elvis family since Tammy and Sidney Moorer were charged last year. When the Moorers were arrested people assumed Heather had been found so they removed area posters asking for information about the case, Haley said.

“That’s when I got involved,” she said. “I helped re-post the fliers, and I’ve been helping ever since.”

Part of that help included traveling to Charleston for the Moorer’s bond hearing last month. Bail for the couple was set at $100,000 on each case with restrictions of GPS monitoring and no contact directly or indirectly with Heather Elvis’ family. Both are released on bail.

Haley said she was stunned when she heard the judge’s bail ruling.

“I kept getting a funny feeling in my stomach,” she said. “But all we can do is pray that law enforcement is doing what they’re supposed to be doing to find Heather.”

Bill Barrett said he wasn’t shocked by the ruling – just disheartened.

“It’s tough because you see the family going through this, and it’s so hard to watch. But the law is the law,” Barrett said.

Debbi Elvis said she hopes the vigils raise community awareness about the still-active case.

“Especially on the hard days, it’s good to feel the support,” Elvis said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2015 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Family, friends gather at afternoon Heather Elvis vigil."