Mother arrested after missing child found in Hartsville
Darlington County Sheriff’s Investigators continue to investigate how a six-year-old child went missing Wednesday from his mother’s home on Lakeview Blvd. Deputies were dispatched to the residence at 9:33 a.m. and were unable to quickly locate the child. Additional resources were requested from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Hartsville Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Natural Resources and SLED. The child was located safe at a residence on Woodmill Rd. in the Hartsville area around 1:30 p.m.
“We were very ecstatic and happy that we were able to find this child safe,” stated Sheriff Tony Chavis. “I am thankful for the support we received from the other agencies and the community.”
Investigators have arrested Shermeka Monique Ross, 37, of Hartsville. Ross is the mother of the child who went missing. Ross has been charged with two counts of unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person. Investigators allege she placed both of her children at unreasonable risk of harm so that the children’s lives and health were endangered by becoming so impaired that she was unable to protect her children. Ross is currently being held at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing before a Darlington County Magistrate.