Deputies searching for girl after mom found dead

Marlboro County, S.C. (WPDE) — Deputies are frantically searching for the 8-year-old daughter of a woman who was found dead Friday morning in a home on Craig Circle in the Bennettsville community of Marlboro County, according to Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon.

Lemon said they’ve tracked down the woman’s young son, but can’t find her little girl.

Eight-year-old Ayana Lowery stands 4′ 2″ tall, weighs about 100 lbs and has black hair and brown eyes, according to Sgt. Jamie Seales.

Lemon said an Amber Alert can’t be issued for the child because deputies have no car or license tag number associated with the child’s disappearance, which is a criteria for issuing an Amber Alert.

The State Law Enforcement Division’s website says there has to be “sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the victim, suspect, or vehicle used in the abduction.”

Lemon said right now they’re talking with the woman’s family to try and locate the child.

“We are exhausting all resources to find Ayana. If anyone knows her whereabouts or has information about her disappearance or the death investigation we are conducting at her residence, please call 911 or 843-479-5605 and ask to speak to an investigator. Please be specific about this case so it can be routed immediately,” said Lemon.

Marlboro County Coroner Tim Brown said he’s not able to provide any information at this time on how the woman died.

Brown said the State Law Enforcement Division has been called in to help with the investigation.