Sidney and Tammy Moorer make joint appearance in Horry County court
A quick “Hello” and some passing glances were all Tammy and Sidney Moorer shared as they sat feet from each other for the first time in more than a year.
The meeting happened as this week marks the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Heather Elvis — the woman the two are accused of kidnapping.
Sidney and Tammy Moorer were in a Horry County courtroom on Monday for a hearing related to a case alleging Medicaid fraud. Both wore their prison-issued clothing — Sidney in tan and Tammy in teal — as they tried to avoid providing a handwriting sample for investigators.
The hearing was unrelated to the kidnapping case, but had the feel of one with several media outlets, extra court security and more in attendance than normal for a typical motion hearing.
Police arrested Sidney and Tammy Moorer on suspicion of kidnapping Elvis on Dec. 18, 2013.
In October this year, a jury convicted Tammy Moorer of conspiracy and kidnapping, and a judge sentenced her to 30 years in prison.
Sidney Moorer is serving 10 years in prison on an obstruction of justice charge. He had his first parole attempt rejected last month. He has not been convicted of kidnapping as a jury deadlocked in his first trial, and he has not been retried.
During Tammy Moorer’s trial, the state laid out a case of Tammy Moorer growing jealous and angry over an affair between Sidney Moorer and Elvis.
Elvis has not been seen since she vanished in December 2013.
Soon after the Moorers’ arrest in the kidnapping case, they were charged by the S.C. attorney’s general office for alleged Medicaid fraud.
Moultrie Roberts, with the attorney’s general office, said the two misrepresented their income on several Medicaid applications. It is believed that Sidney filled out many of the forms, but both received improper benefits.
Authorities say the scheme ran from 2007 to 2013.
Monday’s hearing started with a few fireworks as Sidney Moore immediately questioned whether Judge Benjamin Culbertson could hear his case. An out-of-county judge oversees Sidney’s charges related to the kidnapping case.
Culbertson said it was his understanding that he could hear arguments related to the Medicaid fraud allegations.
There was also confusion on whether Sidney Moorer had a lawyer for the Medicaid charges. A public defender was appointed to assist Sidney during Monday’s hearing.
Once the court resolved those issues, the hearing lasted only minutes. While defense attorneys objected to providing the handwriting samples, Culbertson ordered they must do so within 30 days.
This story was originally published December 17, 2018 at 9:54 AM.
