Posted on August 24, 2020

Sumter Mayoral Candidate Accused of Faking Her Own Kidnapping, Beating for Publicity

Laurel Mallory, WISTV, August 20, 2020

Sabrina Belcher

A woman running for mayor in Sumter now faces criminal charges after police say she staged her own kidnapping and beating to get “publicity, sympathy and votes in the November election.”

Sabrina Belcher, 29, carried out the stunt on Facebook live, police say, with help from 34-year-old Christopher Eaddy.

Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Belcher reported to police that she was assaulted and kidnapped by a man she didn’t know, who also tried to rob her.

She said she was injured and the man broke out her car windows during the attack. Crews took Belcher to the hospital to be treated and she was released.

Later, investigators discovered she was in contact with her alleged attacker, Eaddy, and had planned it with him days ahead of time.

Police say she admitted to faking the crime.

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