News Summary
Parents of a child victim have initiated a lawsuit against Maranatha Christian School and associated parties following severe allegations of child abuse by a former employee. The lawsuit targets multiple individuals connected to the institution and highlights failures to report abuse, raising questions about the accountability of educational and childcare organizations. The case has garnered considerable attention amidst ongoing investigations into the alleged misconduct and the responses from church officials. A jury trial is being sought for damages related to emotional and physical injuries sustained by the child.
Florence, S.C. – Parents of a child victim have filed a lawsuit against Maranatha Christian School and associated parties following allegations of child abuse involving a former employee. The legal action, initiated by attorneys Robert F. Goings and Morgan Y. Drapeau of Goings Law Firm located in Darlington County, comes amidst an ongoing investigation that has implicated multiple individuals connected to the institution.
The lawsuit targets Maranatha Childcare Center, First Free Will Baptist Church of Florence, Inc., and four specific individuals: Laurin Boyce, Jessica Elmore, Dawn Kirven, and Lee Patrick. This action surfaces after charges were leveled against these individuals for failing to report incidents of child abuse, with law enforcement authorities asserting that neglect in reporting child abuse is a serious violation of South Carolina law that specifically mandates educators and childcare workers to notify authorities about such misconduct.
At the center of the investigation is Laurin Boyce, a 73-year-old former nursery and toddler worker at Maranatha, who faces severe charges, including two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, assault and battery of high and aggravated nature, and second-degree assault and battery. Boyce recently pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful conduct toward a child, resulting in concurrent 90-day sentences. Serious allegations against her include physically harming children, such as slamming one child’s head into a crib and dropping another child from waist height.
The remaining three individuals, who are all affiliated with Maranatha, include:
- Jessica Anngeline Elmore, 32, the Childcare Development Director, charged with two counts of failing to report child abuse/neglect.
- Dawn Denise Kirven, 51, the principal of Maranatha, charged with failing to report child abuse/neglect and criminal conspiracy.
- Lee B. Patrick, 49, the pastor and senior officer of the church overseeing Maranatha, also charged with failing to report child abuse/neglect and criminal conspiracy.
Each of the three individuals charged has been granted bail set at $6,000, whereas Boyce has had her bond request denied due to the nature of her charges. The parents of the victim assert in the lawsuit that Boyce’s history of alleged abusive behavior dates back to 2011, claiming that the church concealed over 20 instances of abuse, assault, or neglect from both parents and authorities.
The parents have accused Maranatha Christian School, the childcare center, and church officials of negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, outrage, and negligent hiring, retention, training, and supervision. They are demanding a jury trial and seeking damages for the emotional and physical injuries sustained by their child.
This lawsuit carries significant implications, as it highlights the responsibility of educational and childcare institutions to maintain a safe environment and adequately act upon known incidents of misconduct. With several individuals now facing charges related to their duty to protect children, the case has drawn attention to issues of accountability within such organizations.
The investigation into incidents at Maranatha Christian School began in January, shedding light on a critical failure to respond to reported child abuse. As the case unfolds, communities in Florence, S.C., are closely observing the developments, with hopes for justice and increased safeguards for children in educational settings.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Recent Wave of Sex Crimes Involving Minors Shakes the Nation
Four Charged in Alleged Child Abuse at Christian School
Florence Community Shaken by Alarming Allegations Against Local Man
Additional Resources
- WPDE: Maranatha Christian School Hit with Lawsuit
- WMBF News: 4 Arrested in Pee Dee Child Abuse Investigation
- WBTW: 4 Jailed in Child Abuse Investigation
- ABC News 4: Pastor Charged in Child Abuse Case
- WYFF4: Child Abuse Case at South Carolina Day Care
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- Google Search: Child Abuse Laws
- Google Scholar: Child Abuse Investigation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- Google News: Child Abuse Florence S.C.
