Craziness continues to define the political scene in Horry County, S.C. as a highly-publicized harassment case involving the husband of North Myrtle Beach’s mayor, Marilyn Hatley, is about to blow up again.
That’s because the woman at the heart of this bizarre stalking case has been identified by FITS as Melissa Edge, wife of S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge (R-Horry).
Media sources along the coast tell FITS that Mrs. Edge’s identity has been withheld from published reports due to threats made by Edge’s employer, Myrtle Beach real estate behemoth Burroughs and Chapin. However, our sources say that Rep. Edge was unaware these threats were being made, and that the lawmaker has not intervened in the case inappropriately.
Law enforcement sources also confirmed to FITS that information provided by a “political operative” – not Rep. Edge – initiated a “threat assessment” by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) into Hatley’s behavior.
Local media had speculated previously as to why SLED was called in to investigate the case.
The name of the political operative was not provided.
Originally, The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News claimed that its refusal to publish Mrs. Edge’s name was due to the “graphic nature of the comments allegedly made during the harrasment (sic).”
Mayor Hatley’s husband, David, is alleged to have stalked Mrs. Edge between February and May of 2008.
Previously-published incident reports – in which Mrs. Edge’s name was withheld – indeed paint a graphic image of his alleged behavior.
In fact, local attorneys have previously speculated that Hatley should have been arrested and booked on criminal charges long ago.
“On March 18th (of 2008) … David (Hatley) walked into my front door and began yelling obscenities,” one incident report quotes Mrs. Edge as saying. “He called me a slut and a whore and (said) that every cockhound in town would be calling me. I asked him to leave and instead he walked to the refrigerator and got out a drink.”
In another report, Mrs. Edge describes how Hatley followed her to a retail store and blocked her car so that she could not leave. He proceeded to yell obscenities at her in that exchange as well, according to her statement.
It’s not the only time Hatley’s name has found its way into the papers for bad behavior.
Pulled over for speeding four times from September of 2007 to January of this year, Hatley was ticketed only once. Along with his wife, Hatley also has a history of failing to pay his property taxes on time.
In spite of the allegations against her husband, Marilyn Hatley was sworn in just last month to her third term as Mayor of North Myrtle Beach.
By me December 8, 2009 at 5:41 pm
the sun news is the most corrupt paper in the state and i would wager to say myrtle beach is more corrupt then atlantic beach. Thats what happens when every yankee north of VA moves into an area.
By Pee Dee Herman December 8, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I too blame the Northerns for as much as possible, but Hatley, Edge, and the rest of the good ‘ol boys and girls that run every government in Horry Co. are “from heres”, not “come heres”.
By Mike at the beach December 8, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Calling The Sun News a joke would be a compliment. Corrupt is better, but still not quiiiiiiiiite there…
By not cool December 9, 2009 at 10:43 am
Since when did it become neccessary to reveal the identity of a victim in a stalking case? Very poor taste.
By joseph December 9, 2009 at 11:03 am
that’s right, place the blame on someone else. thats the new american way right, take no responsibility and always blame someone else.
By me on December 8th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
the sun news is the most corrupt paper in the state and i would wager to say myrtle beach is more corrupt then atlantic beach. Thats what happens when every yankee north of VA moves into an area.
By Huhhh??? December 9, 2009 at 2:40 pm
’bout 20 years ago, I worked in Florence with a guy who had Horry County as his “territory”. He used to shake his head and say, “Them people from Horry County are rooouuugh. Ummmnn.”
Is the Sun News corrupt, corrupt or just a little more owned by the Chamber of Commerce, with Burroughs and Chapin thrown in, than most?
By me December 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
thats not to say that the local good ole boys arnt corrupt, but they keep getting reelected by the transplants. John rhodes is the prime example of that, he runs off over 500k tourists because a few people from up north feel like mb should be a many version of mount pleasant.