News Summary
Recent drownings in Myrtle Beach have led to two separate investigations, one involving a 4-year-old boy who drowned in a community pool and another regarding a paraplegic man’s death in 2021. Authorities are examining the circumstances around both cases, with new evidence prompting a closer look at the latter incident. The community is on alert as families cope with these tragedies and concerns about safety at swimming facilities grow.
Myrtle Beach – The recent drownings in Myrtle Beach have prompted multiple investigations into two separate incidents, with authorities looking closely at the circumstances surrounding each case. A 4-year-old boy, Matthew Halliday, tragically lost his life after being pulled from a community pool on May 8, 2025, while questions have arisen regarding the drowning of a paraplegic man, Christopher Skinner, in 2021, following the discovery of new evidence.
Matthew Halliday was found unresponsive in the Cape Landing pool and was quickly taken to Grand Strand Medical Center. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead on May 10, shortly after 9 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of his death, but details surrounding how the young boy ended up in the pool remain unclear. Emergency responders, including members of Horry County Fire Rescue and local police, rushed to the scene following reports of a drowning incident.
In a separate case, the Horry County Coroner’s Office has reopened the investigation into the drowning of Christopher Skinner, which occurred on September 10, 2021. Skinner was discovered unresponsive in a pool located on Yorkshire Parkway in the Market Common area. Initially, authorities ruled his death an accidental drowning. However, the coroner’s office is now reviewing the manner of death due to new evidence that has emerged.
Skinner’s sister has indicated that recent developments and information have raised concerns about potential foul play, particularly linked to a church pastor connected to their family. She explained that renewed attention to the case has encouraged several witnesses to come forward with information that could shed light on her brother’s death.
In another shocking incident, on June 22, 2025, a 5-year-old girl drowned at Sea Crest Resort in Myrtle Beach, leading to the arrest of her mother, Alyse Wike. Wike faces charges of unlawful neglect of a child after surveillance footage revealed that she left her daughter unattended to visit a nearby Tiki Bar. The footage showed the child exiting a shallow, one-foot pool before entering a larger pool, where she remained unnoticed.
It was reported that the young girl was unresponsive for approximately nine minutes before she was discovered by a bystander. Despite quick medical responses and transfers between hospitals, she was later pronounced dead. Wike has been released from jail after posting a $10,000 personal recognizance bond following her arrest.
The investigations into these drownings highlight ongoing safety concerns at swimming facilities in the Myrtle Beach area. Both families involved are grappling with the devastating impacts of these tragedies, while authorities seek to understand the circumstances that led to these fatalities. The Horry County community remains on alert as officials continue to investigate these incidents and work towards promoting safer environments for children at public recreation sites.
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Mother Arrested in Myrtle Beach for Allegedly Abandoning Kids at Hotel Pool
Additional Resources
- WMBF News: New Evidence in Paraplegic’s Drowning
- WBTW: Investigation into 2021 Drowning Death Closed
- Myrtle Beach Online: Drowning Cases Investigation
- WRAL: Mother Charged in 5-Year-Old’s Drowning
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Drowning
- Google Search: Myrtle Beach Drowning
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
