Wife claims husband threatened to kill her over child abuse allegations

A Johns Island man is in jail after his wife said he threatened to kill her and their children if she reported that he had abused a child.

Melvin O. Walker, 46, of Cane Slash Road on Johns Island was arrested Monday and charged with criminal domestic violence, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and lewd act on a minor.

The Department of Social Services contacted the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday because of allegations that Walker had abused a child at the house, according to an incident report and affidavits from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim reported the abuse at school and then described at least two incidents of sexual abuse to a forensic interviewer at Lowcountry Children’s Center, according to the documents.

The mother said she removed the children from the home and stayed with friends while the allegations were investigated. Walker became enraged when he found out, according to investigators.

The child’s mother called deputies Sunday to report what Walker told her Friday: “If I go to jail, I will get out on bond, and I will kill you, I will kill the kids, and then I will kill myself,” according to a detective’s affidavit.

Walker was booked into the Charleston County jail Monday. He is scheduled to have a bond hearing at 7 p.m. today.

Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or twitter.com/dmunday.