The mother of a 6-year-old Hartsville boy who was found on Wednesday after being reported missing was “impaired,” deputies say.
Lt. Robby Kilgo, with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, says in a press release the child was reported missing from his mother’s home on Lakeview Boulevard on Wednesday around 9:33 a.m.
According to the release, deputies responded and “were unable to quickly locate the child.” Additional resources were requested from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, Hartsville Police Department, Hartsville Fire Department, Department of Natural Resources, and the SC Law Enforcement Division. The child was located safe at a residence on Woodmill Road around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We were very ecstatic and happy that we were able to find this child safe,” says Sheriff Tony Chavis. “I am thankful for the support we received from the other agencies and the community.”
The child’s mother, 37-year-old Shermeka Monique Ross, has been arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person, the release says. Ross is currently being held at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
The release also states that investigators allege Ross “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.”
According to arrest warrants, one child was born in 2010 and the other was born in 2011.