Man, woman charged with neglect request at bond hearing to go to daughter’s funeral

A man and woman each charged with unlawful neglect of a child told a magistrate judge Saturday at a bond hearing in Conway they wanted to attend the funeral of their child.

“I’d really just like to be able to go to my daughter’s funeral, sir,” said 28-year-old Andrew Wade Johnson of Aynor, who, along with Jennifer Elizabeth Wood, 31, of Aynor, are charged in connection with the death investigation of 4-month-old Caroline Wood, according to police.

Wood echoed the same request when Judge Gerald Whitley Jr. spoke with her next during the hearing held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Both shed tears during the proceedings in which the judge set their bonds at $10,000 each for the unlawful neglect of a child charge.

According to an Horry County Police report, two officers responded Thursday night to a home on the 2700 block of Nichols Highway in response to a call regarding an unresponsive child.

The child was in a car seat on a couch in the living room of the residence, according the report.

By the time the officers responded at 6:45 p.m., EMS had already arrived and determined that the child was dead, police said.

A witness said that she had taken a nap and left the infant in the care of a babysitter, according to the report.

An autopsy performed on the baby Friday was inconclusive, according to Horry County Coroner Robert Edge, who said further analysis was being done to determine her cause of death.

While Wood and Johnson referred to the infant as their daughter, police have not confirmed the relationship between them. Other family members did not appear to be present during the bond hearing, but a victim’s advocate told the judge that she spoke with the family of the victim and they were devastated.

Johnson was also charged with possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, possession of less than one gram of ice, crank, or crack-cocaine, second offense, and possession of a firearm by someone unlawful to carry, according to jail records.

His bond was set at a total of $18,000 for all the charges.

Whitley asked Johnson if he had a conviction for second-degree burglary and drug possession and he confirmed he did.

Jennifer Wood was also charged with possession of less than one gram of ice, crank, or crack-cocaine, jail records show.

She told the judge she has a past charge in connection with possession of marijuana when asked about any drug offenses.

Her bond was set at a total of $15,000.

Both remained jailed at J. Reuben Long Detention Center after the proceedings. The case remains under investigation by Horry County police.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Man, woman charged with neglect request at bond hearing to go to daughter’s funeral."