Полиция Мертл-Бич ищет информацию о смерти 18-летнего парня, найденного без сознания на шоссе

‘He was really excited’: Mother searches for answers after son, 18, found dead on Highway 501 MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The last time Ashley Fralick talked to her son, he was hopeful about his future. The next day, he was found dead on Highway 501, and she’s still searching for answers about what happened. Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard identified him Thursday as 18-year-old Thomas French. “French was moving from Florida to Boston when he met with some unfortunate circumstances that led him to Myrtle Beach for what was intended to be a brief stay,” Willard said. “Cause of death has not been determined.” Myrtle Beach police are investigating and asked the public’s help in identifying French after finding him on Aug. 8 in the 1000 block of Highway 501. Family remembers French Fralick, French’s mother, said her family has many questions about what happened to her son. “He was a goofball. He was, he was so smart. At one time he wanted to be a politician. He loved music, he loved to rap, and he loved to draw,” Fralick said. Fralick said her son moved to the Myrtle Beach area around July 4, moving away from his family in Florida. Fralick said she had her last conversation with her son on Aug. 7, the day before he was found on Highway 501, and he seemed hopeful about what was next. “He was really excited. He had just gotten into a 6-month program that’s gonna help him start his life, get him in the Job Corps, and help him start his future. It just, it got cut really short, really fast,” Fralick said. Fralick said she had talked to French twice for a long time the day before he was found, and he was working on himself. French had no phone when investigators found him. Fralick said when he arrived in the area, he had many different belongings with him. “He had no phone. When he came here, he had a brand new iPhone. He had, you know, 5 pairs of $200 shoes, a big army duffel bag full of stuff, and he had nothing, nothing,” Fralick said. Fralick said she had been searching for her son and calling his last known number every day without answers. She said someone showed her a sketch, and others told her it was not him. “I’ve been searching for him. I’ve been calling his last known number every day. I wasn’t getting any answers. Somebody showed me a picture of the unidentified sketch. Everybody said it wasn’t him. I said no, he wouldn’t go a day without talking to me because he never did,” Fralick said. French leaves behind two younger siblings and a third sibling on the way. “I’m pregnant, so I don’t think I’ve really wrapped my head around this yet. I go in and out from crying and being happy,” Fralick said. Fralick said the family still knows very little about what happened to her son. She is urging anyone who knew French during his time in the area to come forward to the Myrtle Beach Police Department. A fundraiser has been started to help with funeral costs. “Who has life insurance on an 18-year-old, you know? And I need some help, man,” Fralick said. Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WMBF. For more free content like this, download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here. Copyright 2026 WMBF. All rights reserved.