News Summary
Laurin B. Boyce, a 73-year-old ex-staff member at Maranatha Christian School, has pleaded guilty to child abuse charges in South Carolina. The plea involves serious allegations, including unlawful conduct and cruelty towards children. Boyce received a concurrent sentence of 90 days but will be released immediately due to time served. Alongside her, three other staff members face charges for failing to report abuse, raising concerns about child safety in educational settings and the responsibilities of educators.
Florence, South Carolina – Laurin B. Boyce, a 73-year-old former staff member at Maranatha Christian School, pleaded guilty to child abuse charges in a South Carolina Circuit Court on Wednesday. Boyce faced serious allegations, including two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child and two counts of cruelty to children, both classified as felonies.
The plea agreement reached by Boyce and accepted by Judge H. Steven DeBerry will result in a concurrent sentence of 90 days. Boyce has already served 92 days in jail since her arrest in February, which means she will be credited for time served and released immediately. Prior to her guilty plea, Boyce’s bond was denied on multiple occasions.
The child abuse charges stemmed from incidents that reportedly took place in January 2025 while Boyce was supervising children at the Christian school. According to court documents, on January 23, Boyce allegedly slammed a child’s head into a crib, covered the child’s head with a blanket while pressing down for an extended timeframe, and dragged the child out of the nursery. A week later, on January 30, she was accused of knocking another child over on the playground and then lifting and dropping him from waist height onto his head.
Alongside Boyce, three other individuals associated with the school, identified as Jessica Elmore, Dawn Kirven, and Lee Patrick, are facing charges for failing to report child abuse and neglect. These three individuals, all of whom worked at the school in various capacities, are also charged with conspiracy linked to their failure to act on the abuse allegations. Each has been released on a $6,000 bond, which includes conditions barring any contact with the victims’ families and prohibiting their return to the school during the ongoing legal process.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the alleged abuse after reports were made in late January 2025. This investigation revealed that Boyce’s actions were intentional and abusive, raising significant concerns about the safety of children in the educational environment.
Under South Carolina law, certain professionals, including educators and childcare workers, are mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect to law enforcement. The failure of the other three staff members to report the alleged incidents has added a layer of complexity to the case and further highlighted the responsibilities educators and caregivers hold in protecting children.
Boyce, with over a decade of experience in daycare work, had served in various capacities dealing with children and is a grandmother of seven. The nature of the charges and her background have drawn considerable attention from the community, particularly from parents of the alleged victims, who are understandably concerned about child safety.
The legal proceedings surrounding this case illustrate the serious nature of child protection laws and the legal obligations of those working with children. The outcome of the investigations and the charges against Boyce and her associates remains a pivotal issue in the community as families seek reassurance about the safety of their children in educational settings.
As this situation continues to unfold, both the legal ramifications for Boyce and the other individuals involved, and the impact on the community’s trust in local education providers, will remain closely monitored. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance when it comes to child safety and proper reporting of suspected abuse within educational environments.
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Additional Resources
- WPDE News
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- WISTV
- Google Search: Child Abuse Court Cases
- WMBF News
- Google Scholar: Child Abuse Investigation
- ABC News 4
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Protection Laws
- WBTW News
- Google News: Child Safety Education
Author: STAFF HERE FLORENCE WRITER
FLORENCE STAFF WRITER The FLORENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREFlorence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florence, Florence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florence Festival of Lights, Pee Dee Pride, and agricultural expos at the Florence Center. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Florence Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Area Council of Governments, plus leading businesses in healthcare and retail that power the local economy such as McLeod Health and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.