MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – One of the men accused in the Myrtlewood murder earlier this month has been extradited to Horry County, according to online booking records.
J. Reuben Detention Center online booking records indicate murder suspect Matthew Rivera, 30, of Fayetteville, NC, is now housed in Horry County. Rivera is one of two suspects in the July 10 killing of Mark Verhasselt, 42.
Horry County Police Department Captain John Harrelson says Marquis Shawn Brown, the second suspect, was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
During the investigation of the homicide, Horry County Police Robbery and Homicide Detectives found that Brown was in Fayetteville. Detectives with the ATF/Violent Crimes Taskforce, U.S. Marshals, HCPD, and the Fayetteville Police Department were able to arrest Brown.
A murder warrant has been issued by HCPD for Brown and he will be extradited back to Horry County as soon as possible.
Horry County police also obtained a murder warrant on a second suspect in the case, identified as Matthew Isaiah Rivera. Information was obtained by investigators that led them to believe Rivera, too, was in the Fayetteville area. He was taken into custody two days after the murder.
A police report says officers were called to the area near Bovardia Place and Wild Iris Drive in reference to an assault on Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers found the victim near the rear passenger side of a vehicle with a gunshot wound. The report says there appeared to be shell casings from a handgun beside the victim’s body and the vehicle was described as a dark red newer model Chevy Silverado with North Carolina plates.
According to the report, a witness said around 12:32 a.m., he was woken up by a “loud pop.” Another witness says she heard between four and six gunshots around 12:27 a.m. A third witness says he heard about six to seven sounds which sounded like gunshots around 12:26 a.m.
Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden identified the victim as 42-year-old Mark Verhasselt and said he died of a gunshot wound. Verhasselt is from Fayetteville, but lived in the Myrtle Beach are on an off for several years.