Monday, January 02, 2012

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

8 comments:

  1. As far as I can tell, this murder wasn't reported on outside of South Carolina. We'll see what happens when the suspect appears in court a week from today. Will the defense be the Crazy Card?

    David In TN

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  2. I'm on the West Coast and didn't hear a thing about this. In fact, a few days ago there was an editorial about Duke Lacrosse, unbelievable, it actually merited some newspaper space and this didnt.

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  3. Hope will not have died in vain if 1000 white women who read this get concealed-carry training and a weapon, and then use it if ever they get a chance to exterminate a sub-human rat-ape like this one.

    God made every man different, but Colt made them all equal...

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    1. I'm the one that just posted the last comment!!! U say all of this but what if someone was to blame the whole white race for the actions of the white boy that killed all those innoceblack ppl in the church in Charleston?! Of the treyvon Martin shooting, or any of the other white cops that shot all those innocent people. Fuck the black lives matter or white lives matter... why can't ALL lives matter...

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  4. People talk about race but what if it was a black woman. Yes it was a tragic time in sc and I knew hope well. Talked to her everyday in the store. She was a great person, but one person's actions doesnt need to mark a whole race!!!! This racism shit needs to end!!!!

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  5. I am a beautiful woman. All woman who try and live their lives righteously are. Beautiful women. Hope was abeautiful woman. This scumfilth Miller is a waste of air. Dont make this about race except for the fact that the HUMAN race needs to come together and protect the women and children. The losers commenting on race are the very ones failing us.

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  6. IHR,

    We're going to have to agree to disagree, because this was most definitely about race.

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  7. I found this story unintentionally while googling another similar story I saw on forensic files that occurred in South Carolina about a white woman abducted by a black man she didn't know and her abduction was caught on surveillance camera. this too is a very sad thing that happened. May she rest in peace and it's very eerie that this could happen even in the safety of your car!! I am not mobile right now and when I do have to walk anywhere, that feels unsafe enough. The fact that you could still run into danger like that even "safe" and locked up in your automobile and on the ROAD while wheels are moving is something else...

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