Woman arrested for child abuse in Sumter faces charges in other states

SUMTER, S.C. (WOLO) – A woman arrested for child abuse in Sumter Friday, faces similar charges in other states, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office investigators said Saturday. Authorities said Jaqueline Raysor, 55, has faced child abuse charges in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Investigators determined that Raysor and two children, a 7-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy arrived in Sumter on Tuesday. Officials said the girl was severely burned on her foot. They say it was submerged in scalding water. The child is being treated with heavy antibiotics at Palmetto Children’s Hospital in Columbia, in the hopes that her foot can be saved. The girl’s brother is also in protective custody.

Investigators are also working with Louisiana authorities to confirm Raysor’s relationship to the children and whether or not she actually has legal custody. Raysor said she is their grandmother and that their mother, who is her daughter, is deceased. She reportedly came to Sumter to reunite with the children’s grandfather.

This incident began when Raysor took girl to the Kershaw Health Medical Center in Camden for treatment Thursday night. In addition to the severe injury to her foot, the child also showed signs of having been beaten with various bruises and other marks on her body. The hospital notified Kershaw authorities when they suspected child abuse, who then notified the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Sumter authorities had grounds to charge the woman because she admitted moving to Sumter on Tuesday, although she did not seek medical treatment for the child until Thursday night. Medical personnel determined the injury happened before Tuesday. Since the burn incident did not happen in South Carolina, Raysor could be facing charges from out-of-state.

We’re told that Raysor’s charges could be upgraded if the child’s injuries prove to be more severe. Other charges could also be coming.