Body of Baby Grace found in Socastee creek

Following a nearly three-day search through woods and murky waters, rescuers found the body of 5-month-old “Baby Grace” in a Socastee creek Thursday afternoon, and authorities said her mother could face more serious charges.

Divers discovered the body of Grace Carlson Santa Cruz about 3:45 p.m. Thursday, police said. The baby was found submerged in the creek about 50 yards from where her mother, Sarah Lane Toney, entered the water after taking the infant there for reasons still unknown, authorities said.

Toney, 33, already charged with unlawful neglect of a child, may now face more serious charges pending results of an autopsy scheduled for Friday, authorities said. Police will meet with the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office to determine what charges Toney may now face.

Earlier Thursday, an Horry County judge denied bond for Toney in a hearing at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Speaking in a calm voice and showing little emotion, Toney gave Judge Aaron Butler her account: “I went into the water with her and was unable to hold on to her. I didn’t intentionally put her in any danger. I was going with her and I wasn’t able to hold on to her when the water sucked me in.”

Scott Hixson, deputy solicitor with the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, asked that bond be denied for Toney because she has failure-to-appear changes in her past, along with other charges, including domestic violence, and was currently on probation in connection with a drug charge stemming from an incident in March. Hixson also said he thought Toney was a flight risk.

Hixson said witnesses indicated they saw Toney with a child in her arms walking toward a watery area near her residence on Tuesday before the search began. Toney did not explain the circumstances that led her to the water that day.

Toney told the judge she wants to be with her 9-year-old daughter who lives with her. Hixson pointed out that she doesn’t have custody of that child and that there are domestic orders in place that do not allow her custody.

That child was placed with her biological father after the incident, authorities said.

Judge Butler set Toney’s preliminary hearing for Dec. 11 at the close of proceedings, and she will remain at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Horry County court records show Toney has also been convicted of charges including credit card fraud, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, and making false statements to law enforcement.

The discovery of the child climaxed a search that began about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when officers were called by a resident of Shem Creek Circle in Socastee. The resident told officers she found Toney, drenched and sitting on the resident’s back porch, saying she put her baby in the creek. Officers later said Toney had gone to the rushing creek after an incident at a nearby residence on Simms Drive, but they have not provided further details.

Toney was found at the residence on Simms Drive after the child’s disapperance was reported. She was immediately taken into police custody as the search began. She was also held on an outstanding warrant unrelated to the case before she was charged with unlawful neglect, police said.

Steady rain on Tuesday made conditions along the heavily wooded search area difficult for workers, but the weather was milder Wednesday and Thursday.

Searchers scoured the water and nearby woods. Divers felt the bottom of the murky creek, which was roughly 6 to 8 feet deep. Coastal Carolina University used sonar equipment to scan the waterway bottoms.

The search expanded Thursday when more Horry County Fire Rescue workers joined the search along with the U.S. Coast Guard, Horry County police spokesman Lt. Raul Denis said. Others joining the search were Community United Effort (CUE) Center for Missing Persons, the Georgetown County Sheriff's Department Marine Unit, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and its divers, the American Red Cross, the Horry County Storm Water Department.

Officials had planned for a helicopter from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to join the effort Thursday, but foggy conditions prevented it from flying, Denis said.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Body of Baby Grace found in Socastee creek."