Man Accused of Dunking 7-Year-Old in Ocean Near Sunset Beach Pier
SUNSET BEACH, N.C. — Authorities say a South Carolina man is facing child abuse charges after witnesses reported he held a 7-year-old girl upside down by her legs and repeatedly forced her head underwater near the Sunset Beach Pier — all while she screamed for him to stop.
According to the Sunset Beach Police Department, the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, beneath the popular pier in Brunswick County.
Witnesses Say Child Was Screaming for Help
A 911 caller described a man intentionally holding the child upside down, submerging her face into the ocean surf against her will.
Investigators identified the man as Christopher Maurice Lee, 38, of Longs, South Carolina, who now faces misdemeanor child abuse charges.
Court documents allege Lee didn’t stop after the first dunk.
Instead, authorities say he repeated the act multiple times, even after the child cried out “stop,” and continued again once she briefly came up for air. The alleged punishment reportedly lasted around 10 minutes — long enough for beachgoers to take notice.
Mother Also Charged for Not Intervening
The child’s mother — identified as Lee’s girlfriend — is also facing child abuse charges. Police say she failed to step in or protect her daughter, despite what investigators described as a “substantial risk of physical injury.”
According to investigators, the act was carried out “out of anger” and was meant as punishment.
Sunset Beach Police confirmed the charges stem directly from the 911 report, stating:
“A male was intentionally holding a child upside down by her legs, with her face submerged in the water against her will while she was screaming and crying.”
Authorities say the North Carolina Department of Social Services has been notified and is actively involved in the case.
