Man convicted in Frinks murder case released today

It has been nearly 14 years since 18-year-old Amy Frink was brutally murdered on her way to Myrtle Beach.

Now, one of the two men who were serving time for being an accessory in the murder was released early from prison.

John Paul Counts was eligible for a program called MAP — the state’s Mutual Agreement Parole program.

He was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison, but based on his good behavior, he was released after spending only nine years behind bars.

The murder happened in June of 1994. All offenders who committed crimes before October of 1994 were sentenced under the fair sentencing law, meaning, they could be paroled if deemed appropriate.

Frink’s family found out the news from a community member.

Amy’s mother Birdie Frink said, “We knew that he was in the MAP program, and we knew that it would be coming soon. But the fact that we had to hear from someone in the community that he would be released on July the 11th, that was very upsetting.”

The Frinks wrote a letter in response to the news. Neither the Frinks nor the district attorney received notice of the parole release.

The Department of Correction said there was a mix up in the mail room, the place where notices like these are sent from.