This Just In
I have an official statement from Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard confirming the investigation into Chris Skinner’s cause of death.
“Many of you have recently inquired about this case and yes, both Myrtle Beach Police Department and Horry County Coroner’s Office have been contacted with new evidence regarding the manner of death in this case. This evidence is being investigated. I should remind you that the Coroner’s Office only releases information on Homicide and Accidental deaths (except overdose cases), therefore you may not receive any additional information on this case from our office,” Willard wrote in an email on Friday morning.
Chris Skinner’s death was originally ruled an accident when he drowned in his neighborhood’s community pool in 2021. That story was further bolstered by his wife, Suzie Skinner, when she was quoted in a blog post on the Solid Rock at Market Common church website saying in part, “That day, I guess he when he was driving [his wheelchair], nobody was there, and he got too close to the edge and fell in.”
There’s just one problem — we obtained video via FOIA request of Chris Skinner entering the pool. While we will not be sharing that video out of respect for his dignity and for his family, Chris Skinner appears in the video to propel himself forward into the water.
Statement from Chris’s sister, Tamra McDermott:
My parents and I have fully complied with the ongoing re-investigation into the death of my brother, Chris Skinner.
Over the past year, speculation surrounding his passing has grown, prompting many to question the circumstances. This scrutiny stems from concerns about an individual who was called to and present at the scene of Chris’s death by his former spouse. This individual is now under an alleged FBI investigation. The heightened attention regarding Chris’s manner of death is a direct result of his former spouse’s continued association with this person, a relationship that she has recently and publicly acknowledged as more personal in a recent court hearing.
My parents and I want Chris’s children to know that we love them. It has been deeply painful that our honesty and cooperation with law enforcement have led to an intentional effort to separate us from them. While this has caused us great pain, we remain hopeful for reconciliation and for the understanding that truth and integrity must guide us. Our cooperation is not an act of division, but one of love—for Chris, his memory, and the justice he deserves.
While it is unfortunate that Chris’s name and story have been widely circulated across the internet due to the actions of others, this exposure has also led to a significant number of witnesses coming forward. My parents and I have gained invaluable information that we may never have discovered without the bravery and courage of those who stepped forward.
If you have any information that may be relevant to our family or law enforcement, we encourage you to reach out confidentially at [email protected]. Your identity will be protected.
We deeply appreciate all the support our family has received. To honor Chris’s memory, I have created a Facebook group, Remembering Chris Skinner. I invite those who want to support my family to Join.