Murder Victim Beverly Hope Melton Laid to Rest

Just a day before she was killed, Hope opens a Christmas present from her sister. [Sister] Chandra Garces said, "Who would have ever thought this day would be the last time I would ever see her."

 

 

 

Funeral held for SC woman brutally attacked, murdered

By Michelle Boudin/NewsChannel 36 Staff

Bio | Email | Follow: @MichelleBoudin

WCNC.com

Posted on December 30, 2011 at 4:15 p.m.

Updated Friday, December 30 at 5:22 p.m.

CHESTERFIELD, S.C. -- A small rural church was packed Friday afternoon, full of people who wanted to say goodbye to Hope Melton

The South Carolina woman was kidnapped and killed earlier this week.

Juan Garces is one of several pastors in Hope Melton's family. He has known her since she was just nine years old. That's when he first started dating Hope's big sister. On Friday he was presiding over her funeral at Hopewell Baptist Church in Chesterfield.

"It's devastating, devastating. People now see that there is real evil," Garces said.

He says the family is now relying on their faith to help survive their horrific loss.

"She's in no pain, no suffering. She's in heaven. That's the comfort we have."

Hope died a brutal death. Detectives say 23-year-old Nickolas Miller confessed to kidnapping her after a chance encounter at the convenience store where she was getting gas. The store's cameras show Miller appearing to maneuver his car to follow her. Detectives say he ran her off the road, raped and beat her.

"People have come to the realization that innocent people get hurt every day," Garces said.

Garces says the 30-year-old was planning to start a business with her sister and planning a family with her new husband. He says her life revolved around her family and her church.

"She was brought up that way. When payday came, the first check written was her offering to church," Garces added. "I still got her last voicemail…to hear her voice…it's the last time, until I make it to heaven."

Nickolas [Jermaine] Miller is facing murder, kidnapping and sex assault charges. Investigators are still awaiting autopsy results and conducting interviews. He's expected in court a week from Monday.

[Previously, at WEJB/NSU:

 

"Still Another 'Random' Killing: The Beverly Hope Melton Case";

 

"Beverly Hope Melton's Killer Had Already Stalked Another Woman That Day";

 

"Murder Victim Beverly Hope Melton was 'Loved by Everybody'; No Word Yet on Her Killer's Popularity";

 

"Did The Herald Newspaper Censor Early Reports That Quoted Beverly Melton as Identifying Her Killer by His Race?"; and

 

"Hope Melton's Family: 'He Began Beating Her from the First Moment'; Killer's Family: He's the Victim."]

 

 

 

Confessed, soon-to-recant, racist kidnapper-rapist-

murderer, Nikolas Jermaine Miller