Verdict and sentence · Horry County, South Carolina
A’Kyri Bell / Camisha McGaskey
A source-led reconstruction of A’Kyri Bell’s death, the evidence attributed to Camisha McGaskey, the related child-trafficking investigation, and the October 2026 trial, verdict and sentence.
Current status: Convicted of murder and obstruction October 23; sentenced to life plus 10 consecutive years · Updated October 24, 2026
Evidence key and legal standard
VerifiedAllegationReportedUnresolved
Charges and investigative allegations are not findings of guilt. Assertions are attributed to the agency, prosecutor, defense, witness or document that made them.
01 | Case overview and current legal status
Verified Trial proceedings began October 19, 2026, in South Carolina’s 15th Judicial Circuit. Judge David Caraker swore the jury and read indictments charging Camisha McGaskey with murder and obstruction of justice.
Allegation Investigators allege that 11-year-old A’Kyri Bell suffered multiple blunt-force injuries while in McGaskey’s care. The jury convicted McGaskey of murder and obstruction of justice on October 23, 2026.
Courthouse, judge and attorneys
Court: 15th Judicial Circuit, Horry County Courthouse, Conway, South Carolina.
Judge: David Caraker.
Prosecution: 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson; lead prosecutor Leigh Waller.
Defense: Ralph Wilson Sr.
02 | Victim background
A’Kyri Bell was 11 years old and from Texas. Horry County Coroner Tamara Willard said she had been staying with a person believed to be her father’s cousin. Her family history and life should not be reduced to the allegations surrounding her death; public reporting currently provides limited verified biographical detail.
03 | People and documented roles
A’Kyri Bell — victim
Eleven-year-old child who died June 11, 2025, after being transported from a Sago Palm Drive residence to Grand Strand Medical Center.
Camisha Marie McGaskey — defendant and reported caregiver
Charged with murder and obstruction in the trial that began October 19, 2026. She also faces separately reported trafficking, conspiracy and unlawful-conduct allegations.
Margaret Louise Roberson — separately charged person / listed witness
Charged with trafficking minors and conspiracy in the related investigation. Her case and McGaskey’s current murder trial must be treated separately.
Lakesha Burnett, Alantis Thomas and Darnell Dearmus — other charged individuals / listed witnesses
Charged in related matters. WPDE reports that Dearmus pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct towards a child and testified October 22. Alexandria Thomas, McGaskey’s sister, also pleaded guilty and testified October 21. These separate dispositions do not establish McGaskey’s guilt.
04 | Interactive timeline
October 23, 2026 — Verdict and sentencing
Guilty verdicts on murder and obstruction; life imprisonment plus 10 consecutive years. Verdict, sentencing and sources.
Select an event to expand the supporting detail.
June 11, 2025
Emergency response and A’Kyri’s death
Police responded to a Sago Palm Drive home after a 911 call concerning an unresponsive child. A’Kyri was taken to Grand Strand Medical Center and died.
June 16–18, 2025
Obstruction arrests and homicide charge
Three women were initially charged with obstruction. After the autopsy classified the death as a homicide caused by blunt-force injuries, McGaskey was charged with murder.
July 28–29, 2025
SLED trafficking arrests
SLED charged McGaskey and Roberson with five counts each of trafficking a person under 18 and criminal conspiracy, alleging minors were compelled to clean medical facilities.
August 2025
Additional unlawful-conduct charges
Authorities announced further charges involving alleged physical abuse of children. These remain separate allegations.
June 16, 2026
Arraignment and trial preparation
Prosecutors said no plea offer was being made at that time. Defense counsel raised expert-funding concerns.
October 19, 2026
Jury selected and preliminary motions heard
Judge Caraker seated the jury. He denied a DSS request to prevent juvenile subpoenas. The defense challenged a proposed child-abuse expert; the court allowed the expert subject to the trial record.
Trial timeline update · October 21–22
October 21 — Pleas, testimony and laboratory report
Thomas testified; Dearmus entered a guilty plea. The court addressed a SLED report access dispute. Read WPDE’s dated account
October 22 — Digital evidence and Dearmus testimony
The state presented further phone evidence and witness accounts; defense counsel cross-examined witnesses. Court adjourned without a reported verdict. Read WPDE’s dated account
05 | Investigation and evidence
Blunt-force medical findings
Reported The autopsy reportedly classified the death as homicide caused by blunt-force injuries. The full autopsy has not been publicly linked on this page.
Mops, towels and bedding
Allegation Arrest warrants reportedly describe those items in trash bags and say some material tested presumptively positive for blood. Presumptive testing is not the same as a final laboratory identification. October 21 testimony described SLED testing linking scene blood samples to Bell. That does not independently establish who caused an injury or when it occurred. WMBF — laboratory testimony
Statements and obstruction theory
Investigators allege false statements were provided and evidence was obscured or destroyed. The jury must determine whether the state proves the charged obstruction offense.
Videos and juvenile witnesses
Prosecutors have referenced videos connected to alleged abuse. Juveniles are listed as potential witnesses; their privacy and the court’s evidentiary rulings must be protected.
06 | Prosecution and defense theories
Prosecution theory
Prosecutors contend McGaskey was responsible for A’Kyri’s fatal injuries and then participated in obstructing the investigation. Related allegations describe a broader pattern of violence and compelled labor, but admissibility and relevance are matters for Judge Caraker.
Defense position
Defense counsel Ralph Wilson Sr. has questioned delayed disclosures, witness credibility and incomplete or deleted digital material. Those challenges are distinct from findings that a witness lied or evidence was fabricated. WPDE — October 22 cross-examination
07 | Trial testimony and courtroom developments
Updated October 24, 2026: The trial concluded October 23 with guilty verdicts and sentencing. Earlier daily entries below retain their historical context.
October 23 — Closing arguments, verdict and sentence
The defense challenged the prosecution’s proof of murder and renewed its mistrial request; the judge denied the post-verdict acquittal and mistrial motions. The jury convicted McGaskey on both tried counts. WPDE — October 23 courtroom account.
October 19 — Jury and preliminary proceedings
Twelve jurors were selected; the court addressed juvenile subpoenas and expert evidence. WPDE — October 19 report
October 20–21 — Eyewitness accounts and plea agreements
WMBF described a juvenile’s testimony alleging repeated assaults and restrictive punishments, along with instructions to give police a false account. The defense questioned delayed disclosure. WMBF — eyewitness report
WPDE’s dated October 21 account reports Alexandria Thomas’s testimony after her guilty plea to unlawful conduct towards a child. Dearmus also pleaded guilty. Their agreements and prior accounts are relevant to credibility; neither plea establishes McGaskey’s guilt. Thomas described witnessing abuse and later discovering Bell unresponsive. WPDE — October 21 report
October 21 — SLED report disclosure dispute
Defense counsel initially said he had not received the SLED report. WPDE reports that delivery was established, counsel had not opened it, and he withdrew the objection. This was not a finding that prosecutors withheld it. WPDE — report-disclosure chronology
October 22 — Digital evidence and further witnesses
Digital-forensics witnesses discussed recovered videos and messages, including alleged camera-disposal instructions. Juveniles testified about Bell’s final day. Dearmus described hearing events, sending messages and deleting a recording; defense counsel challenged his account and the missing recording. Phone recovery limits were also examined. WPDE — October 22 courtroom recap
08 | Verdict, sentencing and appeals
October 23, 2026: McGaskey was convicted of murder and obstruction of justice. Judge David Caraker imposed life imprisonment for murder and a consecutive 10-year obstruction sentence. WPDE — verdict and sentencing recap.
Separate trafficking allegations are not included in this reported verdict. No appellate disposition is established here.
09 | Unresolved questions
- Which prior-act evidence was admitted, and what does the complete trial record establish?
- What do final laboratory reports establish about the items collected from the home?
- Which witnesses will testify under immunity, plea agreements or other conditions? Thomas and Dearmus have pleaded guilty and testified. Their plea terms and credibility remain relevant to the jury’s assessment; no immunity beyond what is documented should be assumed.
- Will the trafficking counts be tried separately?
- What defense evidence and objections concerning causation, identity and obstruction appear in the complete trial record?
10 | Court records and source documents
- WPDE — October 22 trial recap: digital evidence and witness testimony
- WPDE — October 21 recap, corrected October 22: pleas, testimony and SLED-report issue
- WMBF — eyewitness and laboratory testimony recap
- SLED — trafficking and conspiracy charges, with warrant links
- WPDE — October 19 trial-day report
- WPDE — pretrial chronology and charging history
- WMBF — prosecutor discussion of South Carolina child-homicide law
Document request: Court-file PDFs and transcripts will be linked here when publicly released and verified.