North Carolina
Pair charged at NC coast after little girl’s face held under water beneath Sunset Beach pier, police say
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A woman and a man are facing child abuse charges after a Friday afternoon report that a little girl was held upside down with her face under the surf beneath a Sunset Beach pier along the North Carolina coast, police said.
The incident was reported just after 6:30 p.m. Friday along the beach under the Sunset Beach Pier, according to a Saturday evening news release from the Sunset Beach Police Department.
Police on the Brunswick County island, located at the South Carolina line, said there were “social media posts and videos” of the incident.
“The safety and well-being of every child in our community remains our highest priority,” police said.
Police said they were asking for witnesses in the case or anyone who has additional information.
“The charges stem from a 911 call reporting that a male was intentionally holding a child upside down by her legs, with her face submerged in the water against her will while she was screaming and crying,” the news release said.
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Christopher Maurice Lee, 38, of Arcadia at Grande Dunes near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Lesley Suzanne McClam, 26, of nearby Calabash, each charged with a count of misdemeanor child abuse, according to arrest warrants and the news release.
Police and a warrant said Lee was the “primary suspect” and that he is dating the girl’s mother.
The arrest warrant for Lee said he was “repeatedly placing (the) child’s head under water/attempting to while (the) child screamed and stated ‘stop.’ Did so again once child was out of water.”
Police said the charge is “the most serious level of misdemeanor offenses.”
Lee was released on a $1,000 secured bond.
The North Carolina Department of Social Services has been notified and is conducting an investigation in coordination with the Sunset Beach Police Department, officers said.
Police added that anyone with information should contact Sunset Beach Police Detective Sergeant Miloszar at (910) 880-8512.
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
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This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
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