HORRY COUNTY, S.C. – A woman and her two young children were found dead in a Horry County neighborhood last Wednesday afternoon.
Around 1:45 p.m., officers responded to a home on Centennial Circle for a welfare check. When officers arrived, they did not receive a response and forced their way in, finding the bodies.
They were identified as 42-year-old Laura Moberley, an elementary school teacher, 11-year-old Eric Moberley and 8-year-old Emily Moberley. Police say the mother killed her two children before turning the gun on herself.
According to WBTW, ‘Laura Moberley and her husband, William Moberley, were in a custody hearing on Aug. 30, a day before Laura Moberley and her children were found shot dead. The case was initiated by William Moberly on June 13, according to records’
“Our community is hurting today, and that is undeniable,” Horry County police wrote on Facebook. “We ask that you be kind to one another—you may not know who has been impacted by this tragedy.”
Horry County Schools issued this statement:
“We are at a loss for words after learning of the tragic incident that affected an entire family with ties to Horry County Schools. We lift our strongest prayers for the Moberley family and for everyone who knew them. We encourage our community to keep our students and staff in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
Our district has a team of counselors made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this. Our counselors are available at the affected schools for any student or employee who may need or want assistance surrounding this tragedy.”
HCPD, Horry County Fire Rescue, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Child Fatality Unit, and the Horry County Coroner’s Office are all investigating.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover funeral expenses.
