South Carolina Legislator Accused of Beating His Wife

Summary: A South Carolina lawmaker was arrested for pulling a gun on his wife.

The children of a Republican lawmaker can be heard crying on a 911 call. Their chilling words, “Just stop, Daddy!” came after the legislator allegedly beat and pulled a gun on their mother during a dispute. When the police arrived, the victim was bloody, and she told authorities that her husband only stopped hitting her because of the screams of their children, aged two and eight.

Representative Chris Corley, of Graniteville, South Carolina was promptly arrested and charged with first-degree criminal domestic violence and pointing a firearm at a person.

In addition to politics, Corley, 36, is an attorney, but Local 12 said that it is unclear whether or not he has lawyered up in this case. He faces up to fifteen years in prison if convicted. If indicted, House Speaker Jay Lucas said that he would likely suspend Corley from his role in the state government.

Corley said that his wife had accused him of cheating and punched him first. He had a mark on his forehead that seemed to possibly collaborate that story. However, it did not explain his use of the gun or his escalation of violence.

Local police received multiple 911 phone calls about the Corleys. In the first call, no one talked directly to the operator, but Corley’s wife can be heard saying, “Please stop,” repeatedly as his children yell, “Just stop daddy. Just stop. … Daddy, why are you doing this?”

The second 911 call was placed by Corley’s mother-in-law. She said that she thought Corley was going to kill himself. After Corley had allegedly beat his wife, she escaped with the kids to her mother’s house, which was across the street. When the mother-in-law called 911, the dispatcher informed her that police were already on the way because of the first phone call.

According to Local 12, Corley was a two-time House of Representatives member who was well-known for his support of the Confederate flag. After the flag was removed from government offices in 2015, he proposed a bill to return it, but it did not pass.

Photo courtesy of Local 12