Suspects in Waring case applied for marriage license - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

Suspects in Waring case applied for marriage license

By Harve Jacobs  bio | email

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - This is the document from Charleston County Probate Court that states 29-year-old Ethan Mack and 31-year-old Heather Kamp applied for a marriage license. The application's date is Sept. 25.

Thirteen days later, the couple was arrested in the Kate Waring case and charged with with obstruction of justice and forgery. Two days after that, Kate Waring's skeletal remains were found in a gated, wooded area of Wadmalaw Island.

During their bond hearing on Oct. 9, the judge asked the suspects about their living arrangements. "I see at one time you lived together, you don't live together now," asked Judge Linda Lombard.

"We still do," replied Mack.

The marriage license application states they lived together at a John's Island address. The fact was checked with Charleston County Probate Court Thursday and Live 5 News found out Kamp and Mack never got the marriage license or tied the knot.

So why were they even thinking about getting married?

Summerville criminal defense attorney Robby Robbins is speculating that it may have to do with a law that would allow the two suspects not to testify against each other in court. "There is a state statute in South Carolina that allows confidentiality between a husband and wife with respect to conversations that involve criminal offenses," Robbins explained. "Law enforcement would not be able to compel the husband to testify against the wife and vice versa."

Again, that's only speculation. Only Kamp and Mack know why they never went through with the marriage and why they thought about it in the first place. For now, they won't get a chance to change their minds. A judge ruled they can't have any contact with each other.

©2009 WCSC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.