They called her ‘mama.’ A girl’s death behind gates of Carolina Forest community
In a gated community filled with half-million dollar homes near one of the Myrtle Beach area’s premiere golf courses, an 11-year-old girl was brutally beaten to death.
The investigation into the case gradually reveals more connections, suspects and information as the once quiet Sago Plantation community, located just a short drive from the Legends Golf Course, now becomes accustomed to a frequent law enforcement presence.
A’Kyri Star’lynne Bell from Bay City, Texas, was staying with a caretaker in a home at 167 Sago Palm Drive in the Sago Plantation community in Carolina Forest.
She was dropped off with other relatives by her father. But what happened in the home from the time the preteen arrived in the Myrtle Beach area has been described as a “horrific crime” by Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt.
Bell’s death led to the discovery of a human trafficking ring and five arrests so far, with pending charges against a sixth suspect. One of those arrested is Camisha McGaskey, 31, who has been charged with the murder of Bell, who died from head wounds, according to the coroner’s office.
Those wounds were allegedly inflicted by McGaskey, who, alongside an accomplice, is said to have forced Bell and at least four other minors in the house to conduct unpaid labor.
Little has been released about the investigation, but it appears that the five people are all related or otherwise connected. However, the owner of the home where it all took place, a New Jersey man, remains a mystery in terms of what he knew about the goings-on at his property, and how the five people, along with the minors, managed to operate the human trafficking without anyone knowing.
A’Kyri Bell: From Texas to Myrtle Beach
A’Kyri Bell was originally believed by authorities to be staying with a cousin of her father, Vernon Bell, while she was visiting the Myrtle Beach area from Texas.
However, as more information has come to light in the case, it is believed Bell was actually living in the home.
Horry County Schools confirmed to The Sun News that Bell was enrolled at River Oaks Elementary School from Jan. 13, 2025, through June 6, 2025, the end of the school year.
Bell’s father is the one who brought Bell and the other children to the Carolina Forest house, leaving them in McGaskey’s care, according to 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.
While it has been confirmed by authorities that McGaskey was Bell’s caregiver while she lived in the area, it remains unclear whether McGaskey is in fact related to Bell.
“They all claim to be kin, but if there is any kinship, it’s tenuous,” Richardson said of the relationship between the adults and minors involved in the case.
All of the children in the house called McGaskey “Mama,” but she was not the mother of any of them, Richardson continued. However, he said the children in the house may all be siblings.
Vernon Bell could not be reached for comment, nor could Bell’s mother, Tarsha Davis.
Artajha Powell and Chantal Gee, two of Bell’s sisters, said that they and their other siblings — Ke’Ari Bell, Verniya Bell, Jalin Gee, Khalil Bell, Da’ Quien Bell and Vernon Bell Jr. — are not yet ready to speak about the situation.
Bell also has two godparents, Stephanie Williams and Adrian Gaines, as well as various nieces, nephews and cousins, according to her obituary. Bell’s funeral and repass were held in Pledger, Texas, on on July 5, according to posts online from those close to her.
During her stay, Bell and at least four other children were allegedly forced to perform labor, including cleaning services, at various medical centers in the Conway area, police reports claim.
Bell died from blunt force trauma to the head after being taken to the hospital by responders who were called to the house on Sago Palm Drive when she became unresponsive, according to reports.
Who owns the house on Sago Palm Drive?
The house where Bell died, 167 Sago Palm Drive, is located within the Sago Plantation gated community.
It is owned by an individual named Tu Yonggang, according to Horry County land records. The house has a listed market value of $606,070 and a listed taxable value of $420,625. Other homes in the gated community have similar, if not higher values.
Property records estimate that the five-bedroom, three-bathroom house was built in 2014. Yonggang purchased the deed to the property for $325,000 in 2014.
Yonggang is reportedly from Wayne, New Jersey, property records show. He did not respond to requests for comment.
It is unclear whether Yonggang is living at the address or is renting the home.
Since the community is gated, reporters were unable to gain access to talk with neighbors.
New charges, arrests made in case
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, the Horry County Police Department announced further charges and arrests associated with Bell’s murder.
McGaskey, Lakesha Burnett, Alantis Thomas, Margaret Roberson and Darnell Dearmas were charged with multiple counts each of unlawful conduct toward a child.
McGaskey received additional charges for reportedly striking a 15-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy with various objects as well as her hands and feet, which was discovered during the investigation into Bell’s death, according to arrest warrants. McGaskey also allegedly caused harm to multiple children in the presence of her 12-year-old daughter, who was also in the house.
Thomas is accused of being present in the house for multiple instances of abuse by McGaskey, and knowingly allowing it to happen, while also allowing her 3-year-old daughter to be present and participate in these events, according to arrest warrants.
Dearmas, 20, is accused of knowingly allowing McGaskey’s abuse to take place, as is Burnett, who allowed her 14-year-old daughter to witness the events.
Roberson is accused of knowingly allowing McGaskey’s abuse.
None of these individuals have prior cases listed in Horry County, according to online records.
The Sun News has requested incident reports and arrest warrants related to these new charges and arrests.
Horry County Police say there are charges currently pending for a sixth suspect.
How it all began
On June 11, 2025, emergency personnel responded to a call that came from within a house on Sago Palm Drive, referring to an unresponsive patient, authorities said. It is unclear who made the call.
When responders arrived, they discovered Bell with extensive injuries. She later died at the hospital from head injuries, according to police reports.
McGaskey was charged with obstruction of justice in the case, alongside Burnett, 34, and Thomas, 21, for providing “known false statements” and attempting to obscure or destroy evidence, arrest warrants said. Such evidence included mops, towels and bedding, which officers discovered in trash bags within the home. These items tested “presumptively positive for blood,” according to the warrants.
Based on public records, it appears that McGaskey and Burnett were roommates.
McGaskey was later charged with murder for allegedly inflicting the wounds that led to Bell’s death.
Bell’s death ultimately led investigators to open another investigation into alleged labor trafficking taking place at the Sago Palm Drive house.
McGaskey, alongside Roberson, 56, were charged with trafficking five minors between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 11, 2025, when investigators looked into why Bell and other children were present at the house.
The timeline matches the same time that Bell was enrolled in Horry County Schools.
Online records also show that some of the suspects may be related, but officials have not confirmed the connections.
Richardson said that sex trafficking is not suspected in this case, only labor trafficking.
Labor trafficking: A growing trend?
In recent years, South Carolina has seen an increase in suspected trafficking victims — with 179 recorded in 2020 and 277 recorded in 2022, The Sun News previously reported.
Last year, 392 victims were suspected in the state, according to the 2024 Human Trafficking Annual Report.
Horry County has been a top location in the state for calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, alongside the other largest counties in the state, such as Charleston and Greenville. In 2024, 22 investigations into trafficking took place in Horry County.
The most common venues where labor trafficking happens in the state are small businesses or retail locations, as opposed to hotels for sexual trafficking, according to the 2024 trafficking report.
