Body of 5-month-old found

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The body of missing 5-month-old baby Grace was found this afternoon around 3:45 p.m., according to Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes. Rhodes said the baby was found close to the house where the baby’s mother, Sarah Toney, said she lost her in the waters. The charges against Toney are expected to be upgraded from unlawful conduct toward a child, Rhodes said. She said police will confer with the solicitor’s office to determine what charges are appropriate. Earlier today bond was denied for Toney, the mother of a missing 5-month-old girl named Grace, by Horry County Magistrate Judge Aaron Butler. Toney was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child as a result of her actions that led to Grace being lost in a Socastee creek, according to Lt. Raul Denis with Horry County police. During the hearing Toney said she had gone in to the water with her daughter, but couldn’t hold on to her. Horry County Solicitor Scott Hixson asked the judge to deny bond because of her criminal past and because they believed she was a flight risk. Through a SLED background check, we found that Toney has a long list of charges including criminal domestic violence, drug charges, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, shoplifting, giving false information, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and malicious damage to property. The majority are misdemeanor charges, with a few felony charges. Her record dates back to 2008. She is currently on probation for one of her more recent convictions of shoplifting and a misdemeanor drug charge. During the hearing Thursday morning, Toney appeared restless while waiting for the judge. After the hearing had to be told to stay in her seat several times while waiting in a nearby room. She stood and appeared to try and hide from camera crews after the hearing a few times, and held her hands to her face several times, rubbing her eyes. The search for Grace started at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday after police got a call from a homeowner on Shem Creek Circle who said she found a woman on her back porch who told her she went in to the river with her baby, but the woman no longer had a baby with her, Denis said. Denis said an investigation revealed that “circumstances unfolded at a residence on Simms Drive, about 1/4 mile from that Shem Creek Circle location, in which the woman ultimately lost her baby in the rushing creek behind the residence.” Toney, 33, of Myrtle Beach, was initially arrested on an outstanding, unrelated, warrant and detained, according to Lt. Denis. On Wednesday, she was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. It was revealed during the hearing Thursday morning that Toney does not have custody of her other daughter. A preliminary hearing is set to take place on this case on Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. We will continue to bring you updates on this as more information comes in.