Two teenagers have been apprehended over their alleged involvement in the death of MyAngel Walker, an 18-year-old woman from South Carolina. Walker’s body was discovered in a burned-out car a day after she was declared missing.
The suspects were taken into custody following a comprehensive joint-agency investigation that covered several counties.
Walker’s family reached out to the Laurens Police Department in South Carolina on Thursday, December 12, after she didn’t show up for her shift at the National Health Center in Clinton, where she was employed as a CNA. Her absence raised immediate concerns among those who knew her, as it was uncharacteristic of the diligent young healthcare worker.
“It became apparent during the night that we were looking for something a little more than just somebody missing,” stated Laurens Police Chief Heath Copeland.
The Clinton Police Department in South Carolina got involved in the investigation as Walker was last seen in Clinton. The investigation quickly incorporated the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Walker’s body was tragically discovered the next day in a burned car near McKenzie Road in Ninety Six, Greenwood County, South Carolina. Video evidence showed investigators inspecting the scorched vehicle as it was being removed from a nearby wooded area. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office later concluded that Walker had died from a gunshot wound.
According to the investigation, the shooting happened between 10 and 11 p.m. on December 11 on Gary Street in Clinton, South Carolina, almost 24 hours before Walker was reported missing. This location turned out to be pivotal to the case’s resolution.
One of the arrested teenagers is 19-year-old Malachi Jewelz Pressley, identified by Walker’s mother as her daughter’s intermittent boyfriend. Pressley has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The second teenager, Taylor Kinard, also 19, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly assisting in disposing of Walker’s body.
Clinton Police Chief Michael Addison shared details about Kinard’s alleged participation, stating she “had knowledge of it and she helped.” Both suspects were presented before a judge on Saturday, December 14, where their bail was denied. They will have a chance to petition the general court in the following week.
The investigation demonstrated extensive collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, reflecting the regional response to Walker’s disappearance. The officials continue their investigative efforts, urging anyone with relevant information about the case to step forward.
Walker, a recent high school graduate, was working toward a nursing career, driven by her passion for healthcare. She was employed as a CNA at the National Health Center in Clinton, the first step in what she hoped would be a long nursing career.
At her former high school, Walker was known for her active involvement in school spirit activities and sports. Teachers and peers remembered her as an engaged student who brought a positive energy to all her pursuits.
Her mother, Sade Woodruff, expressed her grief over the loss: “We lost a big part of our family. We lost a great person. We lost an amazing person, a leader.”
Walker’s professional acquaintances commended her dedication to patient care and her innate ability to connect with those she aided. Her colleagues at the National Health Center in Clinton noted her dependability and devotion to her work, making her absence on that Thursday even more concerning.
Addressing other young individuals who might find themselves in similar circumstances, Woodruff shared a cautionary message: “Be aware of who you’re dealing with, the people you’re surrounded by, the people you hang out with. If there’s anything wrong, any type of domestics going on, then we ask that you seek help.”
