Conway, S.C. (WPDE) — For the first time this week, the Elvis family opened up to what it's like to still be in court, nearly five years after their daughter and sister, Heather Elvis, disappeared.
Prosecutors are trying to convince a jury to find long-time suspect Tammy Moorer guilty of kidnapping and conspiring to kidnap Elvis, who has not been seen or heard from since her cell phone signal died at Peachtree Landing in Socastee on Dec.18, 2013.
Elvis had a relationship with Moorer's husband, Sidney Moorer, in the months leading up to her disappearance. Sidney is currently serving a 10-year sentence for an obstruction of justice charge related to this case and is charged with kidnapping as well.
"It's gotten harder in those five years," Debbie Elvis told ABC15 after court wrapped up Friday afternoon. "It punches you in the stomach."
Her daughter, Morgan Elvis, agreed. "What most people don't understand is that you can't move on. You find yourself in the middle of a moment and you wonder, 'Where's Heather?'"
Because of the gag order, the family couldn't talk about their thoughts on this week's testimony, saying only that the evidence speaks for itself.
They told us two things have been troubling them since they first sat down for opening statements Tuesday morning: the defense attorneys and the online comments.
The Elvis' said listening to the attorneys talk about their daughter was difficult, even as they said they knew they were doing their jobs.
"It's acceptable in the court room, but not anywhere else," one of the parents explained. "The defense right off the bat is trying to paint our daughter in a bad light [in front of us.]"
Morgan mentioned a phrase someone used that particularly stung: "It's not like the world stops turning."
"Saying that in any situation in front of family of a victim is horrible," she said.
The other trouble? Online bullying Moorer and her family have endured since the case began.
"We as a family read those comments. We see the theories, and we live the theories face to face," Debbie Elvis said, "We don't condone online bullying. There are children involved."
They said their thoughts extend to Moorer herself, who has never faced a jury for the kidnapping charges before, much less been found guilty.
"I forgave the Moorers a long time ago," Morgan explained. "It's not my burden to carry."
Still, the Elvises said they were surprised by the number of people who indicated they hadn't heard about the case, despite its high profile and duration.
Around 40 percent of potential jury members said they were unfamiliar with it, as well as many people commenting on ABC15's live coverage of the trial.
"It's never too late to do the right thing," Debbie pleaded. "We still need information. This is all about Heather; it's all about finding Heather."
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