‘Baby Grace’: A life remembered at candlelight vigil

A small but solemn group joined in a candlelight vigil Saturday evening held to remember Baby Grace, an Horry County infant whose death brought national attention to the horrific reality of child abuse.

Gathered in the chill outside Calvary Christian School in Myrtle Beach, individuals shared their thoughts on the tragedy that has left the mother of 5-month-old Grace Carlson Santa-Cruz charged with homicide by child abuse.

The mother, Sarah Toney, took her child into a rushing creek following days of rain earlier this month for still unknown reasons. After a three-day search, the body of the baby was found Nov. 3, about 50 yards from where her mother entered the creek.

Organizers of the vigil, Stephanie Cutler and Lacy Blackmon had never met until Saturday night. They had, however, worked together to bring the vigil to reality. Cutler started the “Prayers for Baby Grace” page on Facebook while Blackmon had created a page called “Justice for Baby Grace.” Neither of the women are connected to the infant’s family.

“I have a young baby and I just couldn’t help but think of how desperate the situation was and how someone could help before it got to that point,” Cutler said. “It’s just heartbreaking all around.”

Blackmon, sharing similar feelings, said she was moved to do something to show love and compassion for the baby. “My heart was so heavy. She fell through the cracks and somebody should have noticed,” Blackmon said prior to the service.

The two women joined forces to organize the event, meant to allow first responders and searchers, as well as the general public an opportunity to express their grief over the child’s loss.

Blackmon said the situation was especially painful for her. “I have a child but I also miscarried, so I’ve had that loss. Life is just too precious to be thrown away like that,” she said.

After Blackmon created a request on Facebook for people to keep their porch lights on for Baby Grace until the baby is laid to rest, she and Cutler came together to organize the vigil.

Leading the service attended by about 30 people was Calvary Bible Church pastor Burton Bosworth, who spoke of the horror of what happened to such a tiny life. He said his hope was that the vigil would “bring comfort in a time of tragedy.”

While the event drew few of the first responders its organizers had hoped for, CUE Center for Missing Persons volunteer Dale Andrews was able to share some emotional thoughts. Andrews, who was on the search the day the baby was found, reiterated CUE founder Monica Cason’s motto that “every person is somebody’s child” regardless of their age.

In an almost inaudible and tear-filled message, he said, “When it comes to Baby Grace, we cannot help but feel she has become everybody’s child.”

Also attending the vigil was Carrie Dunn of Bethany Christian Services who shared some alternatives people could choose when the stress of becoming or being a parent grows too great. Bethany Christian Services offers pregnancy-counseling services and assists with adoptions when parenting is not an option, she said. She said she wants people to know that when they feel stressed about having a child, they do have options.

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 8:44 PM with the headline "‘Baby Grace’: A life remembered at candlelight vigil."