Mother Gets 27 Years in Prison In Drowning Death of Daughter

CONWAY, S.C. (WOLO) – A woman has been sentenced to nearly three decades behind bars after pleading guilty in the drowning death of her infant daughter more than a year ago.

34-year-old Sarah Lane Toney pleaded guilty Wednesday to homicide by child abuse in 5-month-old Grace Carlson Santa Cruz’s death and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Toney was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine and opioids when she walked into the flooded creek near Socastee with her daughter in November 2015.

Authorities recovered Grace’s body was from the creek days later.

Toney initially told authorities she was carrying her daughter across the creek when the child was washed away.