A Grand Strand mom of two is still in a Charleston hospital Tuesday night after she was attacked Sunday in Murrells Inlet during a violent incident in which police say a man bit her nose and that police initially thought was a gunshot wound.

Michele Messer, 35, wants her story to be told to help others who may be suffering from domestic violence. The victim of Sunday’s afternoon attack just outside the Sandy Monkey Bar wants people to see photos of what was done to her in the savage attack.

WBTW News13 volunteered to conceal Messer’s identity and not use her name, but she insisted her photos (which are graphic) be used as they are and her name be published.

A Myrtle Beach man, Christopher Brian Campbell, age 39, who was already out on $75,000 bond for a Feb. 2013 murder charge, was charged in Sunday’s incident with Messer, Horry County Police say.

“I want to share the story to bring awareness for what can happen to a woman for ignoring signs,” said Messer, who says that although she was never hit, she did have one verbal threat made about her children, ages 2 and 9.

Campbell, who was Tased during the arrest, is charged with one count of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature.

Campbell, who is being held without bond, made a brief court appearance on Tuesday morning, but said nothing and did not appear to have an attorney.

Messer says that Sunday’s incident happened after she and Campbell both showed up at a friend’s birthday party at the Sandy Monkey Bar and Grill at 3034 Highway 17 Business.

Messer said that she didn’t expect that Campbell, who she broke up with a few weeks ago, would be at the party.

“But he was being nice to me and we went outside to talk,” said Messer, who added the couple dated for 7 months in the past and lived together since October before their breakup.

The pair went to Messer’s van to talk, Messer told WBTW Reporter Leah Mishkin — but suddenly things changed.

“…the second we got into the van he locked the doors and started punching me everywhere…. No warning…he just got in the van, locked the doors and started punching me everywhere,” said Messer, who passed out briefly during the incident.

She asked what happened. “He said ‘I bit your nose off.’ He said ‘I have to kill you’,” Messer added.

Then, she says she felt hands around her neck trying to strangle her.

“The only reason I am not dead is because I, somehow, convinced him that I would not call the cops and managed to open the door and run and scream,” Messer said on Facebook when she posted several photos of her injuries and the blood-soaked van.

Messer says that she kept in contact with Campbell after they broke up because they run a painting business together.

“(I) just didn’t want him near my kids, but we still talked and communicated,” Messer said. The pair had seen each other a few times with no problems after their breakup and before Sunday’s incident, she added.

Messer said that she was told about the murder charge against Campbell while the pair was dating.

She said she confronted him about it, but Campbell said claimed he didn’t touch the man who died, Thomas Edward Unrue, Jr.

Messer also said the charge was explained away by various people.

“When you have 20 different people telling you it wasn’t him and that it was bogus — I thought he was being a good Samaritan,” Messer said.

For now, Messer says her children are safe with other family members. She said she also trying to focus on how to get her nose repaired.

“The only way to fix my nose is reconstructive surgery, considered cosmetic,” she said.

A friend of Messer’s, Becky Gasque, has set up a GoFundMe account to help Messer raise money for her surgery.
Meanwhile, Campbell is set to appear in court again on April 17.

WBTW Reporter Leah Mishkin attempted to make contact with Campbell, but was told by a sheriff’s official that members of the press are unable to request interviews with inmates at J. Reuben Long Detention Center. 

News13 was also unable to determine who Campbell has hired as an attorney.