FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — A Florence woman allegedly kidnapped a 1-year-old Thursday evening and then abandoned the baby about two hours later in near-freezing temperatures outside a home on Cale Yarborough Highway in the Timmonsville area, authorities said.
Macie Deeanna Eaddy was arrested at about 7 a.m. Friday by authorities in Sumter County, not long after a homeowner found the child abandoned outdoors and still restrained in a safety seat, Florence police said. The temperature overnight fell to about 33 degrees, but police said the child was in good health and taken to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence to be examined.
Eaddy, who was arrested after being found in a car belonging to the child’s mother, is being charged with kidnapping, grand larceny and driving under suspension after the incident, which prompted an overnight Amber Alert. She was taken to the Sumter County Detention Center after her arrest and could also be facing charges filed by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said the people in the home where the baby was found were not believed to have any connection to the child, its mother or the Eaddy. SLED said the homeowner reported hearing a car horn blow multiple times at about 8:30 p.m. and then saw a car leaving their driveway.
That incident began at about 6 p.m. Thursday when Eaddy drove off in the mother’s car and drove off with the child after they had been shopping together, police said. The child’s mother reported the incident to Florence police at about 8:55 p.m.
Florence police said Friday that the department contacted the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at about midnight to begin the process of requesting an Amber Alert. SLED manages Amber Alerts in South Carolina.
Police said the mother told officers they had been shopping and that Eaddy told her at about 6 p.m. that she was going to wait outside and asked if she wanted her to take the baby to the car, police said. The mother said she gave Eaddy permission to take the child to the car but that when she finished shopping and went outside she discovered that Eaddy had left with the child.
Police said there is surveillance video that shows Eaddy leaving with the child and getting into the mother’s car and driving away.
After being notified about the abduction by Florence police, SLED said its agents worked overnight with police and the FBI before issuing the Amber Alert at about 5:50 a.m. The homeowner found the child at about 6:50 a.m. Friday, SLED said.
This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.
