Sidney Moorer found guilty of kidnapping Heather Elvis
CONWAY, S.C. (WPDE) — After several hours of deliberation, 12 men and women declared Sidney Moorer guilty of kidnapping Heather Elvis in December 2013.
On the charge of conspiracy to kidnap, they also found him guilty.
The judge sentenced Moorer to 30 years in prison on both the kidnapping charge and conspiracy to kidnap charge. Moorer is to serve the sentences concurrently, or at the same time.
The judge said he'd refer to the Department of Corrections for any behavior or time served credits that would shave Moorer's sentence down.
The verdict comes after a week-and-a-half-long retrial after Moorer's first kidnapping trial ended in a hung jury.
Prosecutors called 35 witnesses to testify, ranging from former coworkers of both Elvis and Moorer to forensic experts.
The defense called a handful of witnesses, including Moorer's sister-in-law.
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Outside the courthouse, jurors said there was minimal deliberation.
"Well, we reviewed the evidence, we listened intently, we took a vote, and we all seemed to agree," one told ABC 15.
Another said he had been impressed by the expert witnesses and the story prosecutors were able to weave together.
Moorer, who showed little emotion as the verdict was read, continued to claim innocence.
"If I could give them closure, I would," he told the court. "I have children of my own. I get it. There's just nothing I can give them."
A few minutes later, Defense Attorney Jarrett Bouchette called the outcome disappointing, and the situation for both families "tragic."
He said he would try to appeal the verdict.
