---
title: "Co-Defendant Testifies as A’Kyri Bell Murder Trial Hits Day Four"
url: https://www.heremyrtlebeach.com/2026/10/23/akyri-bell-murder-trial-co-defendant-testifies-day-four/
date: 2026-10-23T06:42:03-04:00
modified: 2026-10-23T06:42:03-04:00
author: "Alisha T. Quintero"
categories: ["Crime"]
site: "HERE Myrtle Beach"
attribution: "HERE Myrtle Beach"
---

# Co-Defendant Testifies as A’Kyri Bell Murder Trial Hits Day Four

> CONWAY, S.C. — The murder trial of Camisha McGaskey moved through its fourth day Thursday in Conway, with a man who lived in the home where 11-year-old A'Kyri Bell died taking the stand for the prosecution. McGaskey is accused of beating the girl to death inside a house in the Carolina Forest area, where emergency

*Source: [HERE Myrtle Beach](https://www.heremyrtlebeach.com/2026/10/23/akyri-bell-murder-trial-co-defendant-testifies-day-four/) — October 23, 2026 by Alisha T. Quintero*

CONWAY, S.C. — The murder trial of Camisha McGaskey moved through its fourth day Thursday in Conway, with a man who lived in the home where 11-year-old A’Kyri Bell died taking the stand for the prosecution.

McGaskey is accused of beating the girl to death inside a house in the Carolina Forest area, where emergency crews found the child unresponsive on June 11, 2025. She later died of blunt force injuries. McGaskey also faces an obstruction of justice charge, and she has pleaded not guilty.

Darnell Dearmus, the boyfriend of McGaskey’s sister Alexandria Thomas, testified Thursday. Both admitted guilt this week on a single child-abuse charge, unlawful conduct toward a child, and each agreed to testify against McGaskey. Thomas told jurors on Wednesday that she saw repeated abuse in the home.

Jurors have also viewed photos of garbage bags pulled from the scene. Items inside gave presumptive positive results for blood, and testing by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division traced it to A’Kyri.

Detectives with the Horry County Police Department led the investigation alongside SLED. Prosecutors from the office of Jimmy Richardson, the 15th Circuit solicitor, are trying the case. A murder conviction would carry a sentence of 30 years to life.