A North Carolina woman and her boyfriend have been charged with child abuse following an incident where a young girl was held underwater beneath a pier at Sunset Beach.
Christopher Maurice Lee, 38, of Arcadia at Grande Dunes near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Lesley Suzanne McClam, 26, of Calabash, were each charged with one count of misdemeanor child abuse on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
Details of the Incident
The Sunset Beach Police Department received a 911 call just after 6:30 p.m. On Friday, April 4, 2026, reporting an incident occurring under the Sunset Beach Pier along the Brunswick County coast.
According to the police news release, the report alleged that a male was intentionally holding a child upside down by her legs. The child’s face was submerged in the surf against her will while she was screaming and crying.
An arrest warrant for Lee identified him as the primary suspect
and noted that he is dating the girl’s mother. The warrant further stated that Lee was repeatedly placing (the) child’s head under water/attempting to while (the) child screamed and stated ‘stop….
Police Investigation
Authorities indicated that the investigation into the ocean incident was supported by social media posts and videos
of the event near the fishing pier.
The Sunset Beach Police Department stated that the safety and well-being of every child in the community remains their highest priority. Police are currently seeking witnesses or anyone who may have additional information regarding the case.