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Selective Justice? SLED Targets Tax Auditor While Becky Hill Remains Unscathed

By James Seidel | CC News Network

SALUDA, S.C. — When it comes to SLED and law enforcement in South Carolina, the wheels of justice seem to turn at very different speeds.

Just this week, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Kayla Leigh Berry, a former Saluda County Tax Auditor’s Office employee, with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent and Misconduct in Office over a $6,081.40 discrepancy in adjusted tax records. Her actions—giving unauthorized tax discounts to family and friends—were swiftly investigated, and she now sits in the Saluda County Detention Center facing criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Becky Hill, the former Clerk of Court for Colleton County, remains free and untouched by law enforcement, despite allegations far more serious than a few tax bill adjustments. Hill faces nearly 100 ethics violations related to fund misuse and allegations of jury tampering in the high-profile Alex Murdaugh trial—yet she remains at her lake house, not behind bars.

Two Systems of Justice?

The disparity in how quickly SLED moves on certain cases while dragging its feet on others raises serious questions.

Berry is already in jail for alleged financial misconduct involving a few thousand dollars.
Hill, accused of misusing nearly $20,000 in public funds and potentially influencing a jury in one of the most high-profile murder trials in U.S. history, has yet to face a single charge from SLED.

Where is the urgency in Hill’s case? Why hasn’t SLED pursued her with the same speed and aggression as they did with Berry?

Becky Hill: Jury Tampering and Fund Misuse Allegations

Hill’s actions during the Murdaugh trial have been widely scrutinized. Murdaugh’s defense team—Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian—accuse Hill of privately influencing jurors, urging them to disregard Murdaugh’s testimony, and strategically removing a juror who might have voted for acquittal.

Adding to the controversy, Hill published a book about the trial, raising concerns that she manipulated the proceedings for personal gain. If these allegations are proven, they could undermine the legitimacy of Murdaugh’s conviction, potentially leading to a retrial.

And yet—no criminal charges. No arrests. No urgent SLED investigation.

Evidence Tampering and Wiretapping: The Colt Hill Connection

Hill’s son, Jeffrey “Colt” Hill, was arrested in November 2023 for wiretapping after SLED determined he had illegally intercepted a phone call involving Colleton County Deputy Administrator Meagan Utsey.

Even more disturbing, multiple phones linked to Becky and Colt Hill were wiped clean or reset before being turned over to SLED. Despite this clear obstruction of justice, there has been no movement on additional charges against either Hill.

What’s Taking So Long?

The jury tampering allegations against Hill have been public for almost a year, yet SLED and the Attorney General’s Office remain largely silent. Why is the Saluda County tax auditor already facing jail time, while Hill—a Clerk of Court accused of manipulating a jury in a murder trial—continues to enjoy her freedom?

Is the state protecting Hill to avoid the political and legal fallout of a new trial for Murdaugh? Is there a concerted effort to stall investigations and withhold evidence?

Calls for Transparency

The lack of action in Hill’s case has frustrated legal experts, journalists, and members of the public. Myra Crosby (Juror 785), better known as the “Egg Lady”, has repeatedly questioned the secrecy surrounding the investigations.

“What wiretapping did her son Colt Hill really do according to SLED? Was the jury room bugged? Could Becky have known what every juror was saying in private?”

If true, such misconduct could mean that Murdaugh did not receive a fair trial, which would force the courts to reconsider his conviction. But with Hill’s book deal and political connections, could state officials be deliberately stalling?

Potential Obstruction of Justice?

Obstructing justice is a serious offense—one that can lead to criminal prosecution for public officials. If state actors, including SLED or the Attorney General’s Office, are found to be delaying investigations to prevent a new trial, they could face legal consequences of their own.

Conclusion: Selective Prosecution?

While SLED was quick to investigate and arrest Kayla Berry for minor tax fraud, they have taken no public action against Becky Hill, despite allegations of jury tampering, financial misconduct, and obstruction of justice.

This double standard raises fundamental questions:

Why does a tax adjustment of $6,081.40 warrant immediate arrest, but jury tampering in a high-profile murder case does not?
Who is protecting Becky Hill, and why?
What evidence is being suppressed to prevent Murdaugh from getting a retrial?

Until SLED and the Attorney General’s Office provide clear answers, public confidence in South Carolina’s justice system remains at stake.

Crime and Cask News will continue to follow these investigations, ensuring that the public stays informed and that justice is served—no matter who is involved.