North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — A South Carolina woman who admitted to causing a fatal drunk-driving crash that killed a retired police sergeant has been sentenced to prison after prosecutors said she fled the scene and continued driving before her arrest.
Kayla Tisdale, 38, pleaded guilty on June 9 to felony driving under the influence resulting in death and was sentenced to 14 years behind bars, according to the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The case stems from a tragic collision that occurred on April 4, 2025, and claimed the life of Steven Marshall, a 62-year-old retired police sergeant from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Retired Officer Killed While Riding Motorcycle
According to prosecutors, the crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Sea Mountain Highway in North Myrtle Beach. Investigators said Tisdale failed to yield to Marshall, who was traveling on a motorcycle at the time of the collision.
The impact proved devastating.
Authorities said Marshall was killed almost instantly as a result of the crash. The retired officer had relocated to the Myrtle Beach area several years earlier after completing a long law enforcement career in Pennsylvania.
Marshall served with the Bethlehem Police Department for more than two decades before retiring in 2010.
Driver Allegedly Left Scene After Crash
Prosecutors said the case became even more troubling because Tisdale allegedly left the crash scene instead of remaining there after the collision.
According to court records, she drove away and went to pick up her daughter from elementary school before law enforcement officers located her.
South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers eventually arrested Tisdale as she arrived at a residence after leaving the school.
Investigators reported that she displayed signs of severe intoxication when they encountered her.
Blood Alcohol Level Nearly Three Times Legal Limit
Authorities said Tisdale’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.19, significantly above South Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08. Prosecutors stated that she admitted to drinking alcohol beginning around 8:30 a.m. on the day of the crash.
According to court documents, Tisdale told the court she did not remember purchasing her final alcoholic beverage from a Circle K convenience store. However, prosecutors said surveillance footage captured the purchase.
The evidence became a key part of the case presented against her.
Prior Federal Conviction Also Revealed
The guilty plea in the fatal DUI case came only weeks after Tisdale resolved an unrelated federal criminal matter.
According to prosecutors, she pleaded guilty in federal court in April to misprision of a felony, admitting that she concealed approximately $750,000 in cash and gold bullion connected to a drug-trafficking operation.
Tisdale reportedly told the court that stress related to that federal case contributed to her excessive drinking.
Despite that explanation, prosecutors emphasized the devastating consequences of her decision to drive while heavily impaired.
“Our community lost a career public servant, who spent the better part of 20 years attempting to save lives, simply because Ms. Tisdale chose to become grossly impaired before 9:00 a.m. that day,” Assistant Solicitor Brandon Lanier said in a statement.
Three Children Dead as Experts Renew Warnings About Dangerous Benadryl Trend
Community Remembers Fallen Officer
Marshall’s former colleagues in Pennsylvania remembered him as a dedicated public servant whose impact extended far beyond his years on the force.
In a statement, the Bethlehem Police Department praised his decades of service and commitment to protecting the community.
“His dedication, professionalism, and commitment during his more than two decades of service left an indelible mark on our department and all who had the privilege of working alongside him,” the statement read. “His legacy and contributions to the department will not be forgotten.”
Under South Carolina law, Tisdale must serve at least 85% of her 14-year sentence before becoming eligible for supervised release.
What do you think about the sentence in this case? Should penalties for fatal drunk-driving crashes be increased, or do current laws provide appropriate consequences? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
