A South Carolina woman is heading to prison for over a decade after a deadly drunk-driving crash that ended with her calmly picking up her daughter from elementary school — as if nothing had happened.
Kayla Tisdale, 38, pleaded guilty to felony DUI resulting in death for the April 2025 crash that killed 62-year-old motorcyclist Steven Marshall. A circuit court judge wasted no time and immediately sentenced her to 14 years in state prison.
But that’s not even her only legal nightmare.
Earlier this year, Tisdale also pleaded guilty in federal court to a separate charge — misprision of a felony — after she was caught holding $750,000 in cash and gold bullion tied to a drug trafficking and money-laundering operation. She’s still awaiting her federal sentencing.
How the deadly crash happened
The tragedy unfolded on the afternoon of April 4, 2025, on Sea Mountain Highway in Little River, near North Myrtle Beach.
Authorities say Tisdale failed to yield to Marshall, who was riding a 2003 Honda scooter, while she was behind the wheel of a 2011 Cadillac SUV. The crash was fatal almost instantly.
And then, instead of stopping to help — she allegedly drove off to pick up her daughter from school.
State troopers caught up with her later that same day, arresting her as she pulled into a driveway.
Drinking since before 9 a.m.
Investigators discovered Tisdale’s blood alcohol level was a staggering 0.19 — nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.
When questioned, Tisdale reportedly told troopers she had “been drinking since 8:30 a.m.” that day, blaming the stress of the ongoing federal investigation against her.
She even claimed she didn’t remember buying alcohol from a local Circle K — but surveillance cameras tell a different story, clearly capturing the purchase.
Who was the victim?
Steven Marshall wasn’t just any retiree. He had dedicated 20 years of his life to law enforcement in Pennsylvania before moving to the Myrtle Beach area to enjoy retirement. Instead, his life was cut short by a driver who chose to get behind the wheel grossly impaired.
Witnesses played a key role
Bystanders who saw the crash quickly snapped photos of Tisdale’s license plate as she fled — a move that helped police track her down within hours.
“No winners” in this tragedy
Prosecutor Brandon Lanier didn’t hold back, calling the case a painful reminder of what drunk driving can cost.
“Our community lost a career public servant… simply because Ms. Tisdale chose to become grossly impaired before 9:00 a.m. that day,” Lanier said.
He added that Marshall’s family will never fully heal, and that Tisdale’s young daughter will now grow up without her mother during a crucial part of her life.
“We hope this lengthy prison sentence will deter those who think about drinking and driving from ever doing so,” Lanier said.
