One year after his murder, family of St Helena man begs for help, justice

ST HELENA ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) – It was one year ago that a St Helena family lost their Father. their grandfather, the man they loved.

Gunshots took Candido Montanez’s life, but no one knows who pulled the trigger.

His family says it still feels like a dream, more like a nightmare. Now they hope by speaking out they can get some help. They can sleep easier. Knowing a suspect is behind bars.

“As far as him being a coach for PALS, Oh, man, he loved it. He was so into it,” remembers Adele Moon, Montanez’s Partner. “He always said that they were the future. Coaching, that was the one thing that he just loved doing. He just loved it so much.”

Candido Montanez, Monte as he was known to many, loved the kids he coached. He loved baseball, loved to be outside and loved his blended family.

The beloved Beaufort County Parks and Recreation worker spent many days and nights at the field. But it was off it, the night of July 10 that his family will never forget.

“He told his coworkers that he was going to call me. but he never called me,” remembers Adele. “I noticed the time by then it was, like, 12 something, and I was like, wow, did he catch a ride? And I was just thinking about it. And I was like, yes, oh, well, I guess. So, I went to bed. When I woke up, it was to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department knocking at my door, and I was looking around and I said, you know, where’s Monte?”

It was only then, with Deputies standing in her living room, that reality set in for Adele.

“Then they said, okay, we’re sorry to tell you that he was found deceased on the road. And I just shook my head like. What? No, no.”

“When my mom told me that granddad, that granddaddy died, I was felt sad in my heart,” said Jordynn Moon, Montanez’s Granddaughter. “Because he was, he was kindest thing in my heart that I always had. And me and my sister, I was. I was like, what? No, that can’t be true. She say, yes, that is true. The police come over here and said that granddaddy died. I start crying saying, no, that’s not true. No. Not true. It can’t be.

Montanez was found shot in the street late at night on Club Bridge Road. He was dropped off at Parker’s just 30 minutes before and was walking home when he was killed.

“There was not a lot of evidence from, from the crime itself. I mean, it was apparent he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds,” said Lieutenant Jason Malphrus of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

“He had a reflective vest on. He had a strobe in his hand,” continued Malphrus. “He wasn’t trying to sneak around or do anything. He was taking safety precautions for walking, but it was it was kind of an isolated road from, from about where he was to the next intersection was probably a half a mile.”

One year later it’s still sinking in for his family. His little girls who lost their father, or their grandfather. His partner who lost the man she calls her love. And they all want answers,

“Nobody deserves for this to happen.” explains Lt. Malphrus. “He was a good person and he had a positive impact on the community and his family. Hopefully through this, we can generate some leads and give the family some, some answers they need.”

“Because I’ve gotten to know the family, spoke with them, sat down with them. You know, hugged them,” said Lt Malphrus. “Stayed in, in contact with them. So, this one’s, this one’s special in my book.”

So, I just feel like if, you know, just open your mouth and say something,” said Dominique Moon. “Help us out. Find some closure. Get justice. Help my mom sleep better at night because I know she’s still tosses and turns. Because I know it was very hard the first month. Took us a while to get it together. Yeah. So, you guys know anything? Something. I don’t care if it’s. Oh, I saw him or oh, it was her or. Oh, I did see them or something. I don’t even, I don’t care anything.

“Please say something, please,” says Adele. “That will help us out a whole lot. You know, I just need that closure. I need to know why. I need to know what happened?”

“I would say, granddaddy, I miss you,” said Jordynn. “Please. I just want you back here with us. We miss you. Please come back to us.”

Beaufort County Sheriff’s investigators say the public may hold the keys to finding out what happened to Candido Montanez.

Again, he was found dead on Club Bridge Road in St Helena on July 10, 2023.

If you have anything that may help, call 843-255-3300.

Plea for Information: July 10, 2023 murder of Candido Timmy Montanez Jr. (youtube.com)