A worried parent speaks about safety concerns at a local daycare.
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Sponsor Our ArticlesFlorence County is reeling from serious allegations of child abuse involving a worker from Maranatha Christian School. Laurin B. Boyce, 72, has been denied bond twice amid troubling charges including assault. Three other individuals are also implicated in the investigation. Parents express concern for their children’s safety as suspects face serious legal repercussions.
In a disturbing turn of events, Florence County, South Carolina is grappling with serious allegations involving a day care worker from Maranatha Christian School. The individual at the center of this investigation is Laurin B. Boyce, a 72-year-old employee who has been accused of *child abuse*.
Boyce recently appeared in a court hearing in Marion County, where she was denied bond for the second consecutive time. This came after she was also refused bail in Effingham Magistrate Court shortly after her arrest on February 10, 2025. As it stands now, Boyce remains behind bars at the Florence County Detention Center.
But Boyce is not the only one facing scrutiny. A total of three other individuals are part of this shocking investigation. They include Jessica Elmore, 33, and Dawn Kirven, 42, both of whom work in the nursery at the school, and Lee B. Patrick, 54, who is identified as a pastor at the First Free Will Baptist Church that operates the school. Interestingly, while Boyce has been denied bail, Elmore, Kirven, and Patrick were able to post $6,000 bonds each and have been released.
All four suspects are facing charges related to the same child abuse investigation. The charges against Boyce are particularly troubling. She is facing two counts of *unlawful conduct toward a child*, as well as *assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature* and *second-degree assault and battery*. These charges stem from incidences that allegedly took place on January 23 and January 30, where Boyce is accused of violently slamming a child’s head into a crib and knocking another child over on the playground.
As for Elmore and Kirven, they are in hot water for allegedly failing to report the abuse to the authorities after witnessing it. This kind of negligence has serious consequences, as South Carolina law mandates that suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported and failure to do so can lead to fines or even imprisonment for up to six months. Patrick is also in trouble for not reporting the abuse, holding a position of trust as the pastor. He has been charged not only for failing to report abuse but also for *criminal conspiracy*.
All suspects are set to appear in General Sessions Court on April 2, 2025. This case has understandably raised alarms for many, including parents with children attending the daycare. Austin Royal, a concerned parent of one of the victims, expressed serious worries about the safety of children in such an environment during the recent court hearing.
Interestingly, Boyce has over a decade of experience working in day care and is also a grandmother, which adds another layer of complexity to this case. The *arrest of Boyce and the others involved was planned* by law enforcement, involving a significant number of officers.
Amid the unfolding drama, the attorneys representing the school have voiced their shock over the allegations against their staff. They stand firm in their belief in their innocence, hoping to clear the names of those involved as the investigation continues.
As this unsettling story develops, many in the Florence County community are left wondering how such allegations could occur in a place designed to care for children. With the upcoming court date, all eyes will be on the proceedings as the truth unfolds.
Community Shocked as Four Charged with Child Abuse at Local School
Florence County Community Reacts to Child Abuse Allegations
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