Minnesota Woman Dies After Alleged Fall Down Stairs During South Carolina Vacation

A Minnesota woman died nearly a year ago after she was allegedly shoved down a flight of stairs by a bartender on Edisto Island, South Carolina, prosecutors say.

Joyce Tomlinson, 62, was on a girls' trip to celebrate her birthday with her best friend, Ruth Peterson, when the incident occurred on October 3, 2025. The two friends were leaving Coot's Bar and Grill when Mary Hunt, a bartender, allegedly pushed Tomlinson down a 16-step staircase.

Peterson told Fox 8 Live that she and Tomlinson were having a pleasant evening before the incident. "We were there to have fun, and you know, hang out; girlfriends who hadn't seen each other in a long time," Peterson said. "It got too crowded."

As Peterson went to retrieve their car, Tomlinson remained inside to settle the bill. Peterson recounted turning around to see Tomlinson heading for the stairs when "the lady just took off running and pushed her with both hands as hard as she could in the back." Tomlinson's body fell down the stairs, landing headfirst on a concrete slab, Peterson said.

Peterson immediately checked for a pulse and found none, noting that Tomlinson was bleeding from her ears and mouth, indicating a severe head injury. First responders found the victim unresponsive but breathing.

According to a witness who spoke to police, Hunt had been arguing with Tomlinson inside the bar, and the confrontation escalated. The witness stated that the bartender allegedly grabbed Tomlinson by the throat and attempted to force her outside.

Hunt offered a different account, claiming Tomlinson was belligerent, shouted at the staff, and fell down the stairs on her own.

Tomlinson was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where she underwent a craniotomy. She died from her injuries on October 26, 2025, three weeks after the alleged assault.

Hunt has been charged with voluntary manslaughter, an offense involving emotional intent where there is insufficient time for the perpetrator to cool off. "If there's a cooling off period, it's going to be a murder," attorney Brady Vannoy explained. "A cooling-off period is a period of time where somebody would have adequate time to reflect on the situation and what they're doing."

Hunt faces up to 30 years in prison. She was initially released on a $100,000 bond but was later taken into custody at the Colleton County Jail for allegedly violating the bond conditions.

Tomlinson, who is survived by her son, was remembered in a GoFundMe as a "kind and giving soul to everyone who knew her." The fundraiser noted her ability to offer direct and helpful advice: "In her no-nonsense way, she always knew the right thing to say when you needed to hear it."