Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Foley discovered 90 recorded calls from her brother's killer, Weldon Boyd.
- The calls exposed details contradicting Boyd's self-defense claims in Scott Spivey's death.
- Recordings revealed Weldon Boyd's connection to Deputy Chief Brandon Strickland.
- Strickland assured Boyd of proper handling while avoiding direct case involvement.
- Boyd's own words, recorded, were used to challenge his self-defense during depositions.
- Despite new evidence, the case facts currently point to a stand-your-ground finding.
Deep Dive
- On Super Bowl Sunday, Jennifer Foley discovered 90 recorded phone calls by Weldon Boyd, her brother Scott Spivey's killer, in police files.
- The recordings, from September 2023, included a 911 call from Boyd's phone revealing a second voice, Bradley Williams, stating, 'Why couldn't we fucking leave him alone?'.
- Foley felt these calls undermined Boyd's self-defense claims.
- Weldon Boyd was recording calls to gather evidence for a contentious breakup and custody battle.
- Less than an hour before the shooting, Boyd listed his engagement ring and truck for sale on Facebook.
- Boyd and Bradley Williams were driving when Boyd called 911, claiming a person was pointing a gun at him; Scott Spivey was shot minutes later.
- After the shooting, Boyd called 911 to ask about police arrival and requested to call his mother.
- Hours later, he repeatedly told his mother it was a clear-cut self-defense case, claiming Scott Spivey shot at him first and was driving erratically.
- Jennifer Foley noted Boyd's frequent calls to his mother, who is involved in his North Myrtle Beach restaurant, Boys on the Boulevard.
- Boyd told his mother he chased Spivey after an alleged road incident where Spivey aimed a gun at Bradley Williams, stating Spivey was 'terrified'.
- Boyd and Williams discussed the incident, with Boyd expressing no remorse and suggesting they get teardrop tattoos to commemorate the event.
- Jennifer Foley finds these statements, combined with Boyd's public online activity, undermine his self-defense claims.
- Weldon Boyd, a local celebrity and businessman in North Myrtle Beach, has a history of publicly defending his business, including suing a customer for a negative review.
- Boyd previously posted a video of himself punching a customer and his online activity includes videos of him doing doughnuts, shooting guns, and firing at a fake head.
- Days after the shooting, Boyd expressed concern to his mother about his reputation being tarnished by rumors.
- Jennifer Foley provided audio clips of Boyd's calls to her lawyer, Mark Tinsley, who used them to question Boyd and Williams during depositions.
- Tinsley described Jennifer's discovery as a 'touchdown,' emphasizing the significance of hearing the witnesses discuss the event.
- The prosecution presented Boyd's recorded calls, where he appeared to admit guilt and discussed commemorative tattoos, undermining his defense claims.
- Jennifer Foley informed an investigator about numerous calls between Weldon Boyd and Deputy Chief Brandon Strickland of Horry County Police, escalating suspicions of a police cover-up.
- On the night of the shooting, Boyd called Strickland, informing him he 'had to shoot someone'.
- Strickland, responsible for overseeing investigations, assured Boyd he had 'the right people' coming to handle the situation, while avoiding direct involvement to maintain investigation integrity.
- Strickland's lawyer claimed his assurances to Boyd were 'bluster,' denying influence on the investigation. Strickland explained his absence from the crime scene was to prevent accusations of directing the investigation due to their friendship, ensuring Detective Alan Jones handled the case.
- Boyd and Strickland discussed racial perceptions, noting a white business owner shooting a black man could create a different narrative, referencing Zimmerman and Arbery.
- Scott Spivey's body was transported in his truck to the police department, a deviation from typical homicide procedure, to preserve evidence and 'clear Boyd'.