Community's response to child safety allegations in Florence
Want to target the right audience? Sponsor our site and choose your specific industry to connect with a relevant audience.
Prominent brand mentions across targeted, industry-focused articles
High-visibility placements that speak directly to an engaged local audience
Guaranteed coverage that maximizes exposure and reinforces your brand presence
Interested in seeing what sponsored content looks like on our platform?
May’s Roofing & Contracting
Forwal Construction
NSC Clips
Real Internet Sales
Suited
Florida4Golf
Click the button below to sponsor our articles:
Sponsor Our ArticlesFlorence, South Carolina, is in shock as former daycare worker Laurin B. Boyce, 73, faces serious child abuse charges at Maranatha Christian School. Allegations include assaults on multiple children, raising concerns among parents about safety in educational spaces. Other staff members are also scrutinized for failing to report the incidents. As investigations unfold, parents grapple with fears for their children’s safety, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability in childcare settings.
Florence, South Carolina, is absorbing a shocking wave of allegations that have left the community reeling. A former daycare worker, Laurin B. Boyce, 73, has been charged with multiple offenses related to child abuse at Maranatha Christian School. The grim details of the alleged incidents are coming to light, sending chills down the spine of parents and guardians in the area.
Boyce is facing serious charges, which include two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, as well as assault and battery high and aggravated and second-degree assault and battery. The charges stem from incidents that reportedly occurred on January 23 and January 30, 2025. The court proceedings have moved quickly, with Boyce’s bond denied after the judge viewed her as a danger to the community.
Details from the incidents are disturbing. On January 23, it is alleged that Boyce behaved in a shocking manner by slamming a child’s head into a crib, subsequently covering their head with a blanket, and dragging them out of the room. Just a week later, on January 30, she reportedly knocked another child over in the playground, lifting them by their arm and leg before dropping them from waist height onto their head. These claims, if confirmed, paint a troubling picture of what might have occurred behind the walls of the school.
The fallout from this case extends beyond Boyce. Three other employees from Maranatha Christian School have also come under scrutiny. Dawn Denise Kirven, the school’s principal, Jessica Anngeline Elmore, and Pastor Lee B. Patrick have all been charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect.
Kirven, Elmore, and Patrick have since been released on a $6,000 bond but are now prohibited from exercising supervisory authority over children at the school. Their legal representatives stand firmly by their clients, asserting their belief in their innocence. They allege that the charges against their clients relate solely to the failure to report suspicions of child abuse rather than any direct involvement in harming children.
It is essential to note that in South Carolina, education professionals, including daycare workers and teachers, are considered mandated reporters. This means they have a legal and moral obligation to report any known or suspected child abuse. The failure of the school staff to report the alleged incidents has raised serious questions about their adherence to these critical laws designed to protect the well-being of children.
As the investigation continues, there has been little released regarding the current condition or age of the children involved in this case. The community is left wondering about the safety and security of its youngest members as they await further updates.
This is not just a legal matter but also a community crisis impacting countless families. Parents find themselves grappling with concerns over the safety of their children in a place that should be home to laughter and learning. The shocking nature of the allegations has created ripples throughout Florence County, prompting discussions around child safety and the responsibilities of caregivers in educational settings.
As this heart-wrenching story unfolds, many in Florence are left hoping that justice will prevail, and those who are supposed to protect our children will be held accountable for their actions.
Hazing Investigation Engulfs Henry School District Football Team
Child Abuse Charges Shake Florence Community
Florence County, SC Faces Winter Weather Challenges and Fuel Spill Incident
Child Abuse Investigation at Florence County Day Care
North Charleston Man Faces Serious Criminal Charges
Tragic Head-On Collision in Florence County Claims Life
Tragic Head-On Collision Claims Two Lives in Florence County
Tragic Road Accidents in Florence County Claim Three Lives
Community Shocked as Four Charged with Child Abuse at Local School
Florence County Community Reacts to Child Abuse Allegations
News Summary Duke Energy has announced the appointment of Harry Sideris as its new CEO,…
News Summary Michelin North America marks a significant milestone this year, celebrating 50 years of…
News Summary Novant Health is implementing a new regional leadership structure in Charlotte to enhance…
News Summary WebsterRogers LLP, based in Florence, is expanding into Spartanburg, to enhance services for…
News Summary On March 13, Charleston will host the highly anticipated Business & Brews event…
News Summary In response to the U.S. designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist…