In the late summer of 2021, the community of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was shaken by the death of Christopher Skinner, a man known for his inspirational story of perseverance. A U.S. Army veteran, author, and motivational speaker, he was paralyzed from the chest down following a car accident involving a drunk driver when he was twenty years old.
On September 6, 2021, Skinner, who was 40 years old at the time of his death, was found unresponsive in the swimming pool of his Emmens Preserve neighborhood. First responders were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead from asphyxiation due to drowning. The initial ruling by the Horry County Coroner's Office was that his death was an accident. His wife at the time, Suzie Skinner, suggested that he may have gotten too close to the edge of the pool in his specialized all-terrain wheelchair and fallen in.
For over two years, the case remained closed. However, in January 2025, the Myrtle Beach Police Department reopened the investigation after receiving new evidence. This development brought renewed scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding Skinner's death. His sister, Tamra McDermott, had long held suspicions about the official cause of death and had been actively seeking answers. The renewed investigation included additional interviews, but in March 2025, the police department announced they were closing the case again, stating that 'further investigation provided no additional information that would indicate a crime had been committed.' Despite the police closing their file, the Horry County Coroner's Office confirmed their investigation remained open as they continued to review the manner of death.
The case has drawn significant public interest due to its connection with John-Paul Miller, a local pastor. It has been reported that Skinner's wife, Suzie, was in a relationship with Miller. Skinner’s sister revealed that he had confronted Miller about an alleged affair with his wife just weeks before he died. Questions have also been raised by video evidence that reportedly shows Skinner's wheelchair being driven into the pool. Further complicating the narrative is a history of dispute between Skinner and the homeowners' association regarding his access to the pool. As of late 2025, while the police investigation is closed, the coroner's investigation is ongoing, and the FBI is reportedly analyzing key video evidence. No arrests have been made or suspects officially named in connection with Christopher Skinner's death.
