Baby found in Myrtle Beach hotel room with cocaine has died, Horry coroner says
The infant found in a Myrtle Beach hotel room where cocaine was present has died.
Horry County Coroner Robert Edge confirmed the baby died Tuesday morning. The baby died of physical injuries, Myrtle Beach Cpl. Thomas Vest said.
Officers went to the Camelot Resort, 2000 N. Ocean Blvd, on Sunday for an unresponsive infant. Officers searched the hotel room and said they found a white powdery substance, which tested positive for cocaine, near the child’s bottle.
The child was initially in critical condition at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, according to the warrants.
Four other children were in the room, according to the warrants.
The baby’s father, Geames Kena Ratliff, was charged with homicide by child abuse, which can be punished by up to 20 years in prison. Ratliff was also charged with counts of unlawful neglect of a child and possession of a controlled substance. The unlawful neglect of a child counts are punishable by up to 10 years incarceration.
Ratliff is currently being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
The baby’s mother, Laquena Lanishia Bostic, faces counts of unlawful neglect of a child and possession of cocaine.
This story was originally published August 28, 2019 at 9:32 AM.
