Categories: School News

Lawsuit Accuses Maranatha Christian School of Covering Up Child Abuse

Illustration representing the serious allegations against Maranatha Christian School.

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News Summary

A lawsuit has been filed against Maranatha Christian School, alleging a 15-year cover-up of child abuse by a former employee. The suit highlights severe misconduct and failures by school leadership to report incidents of abuse. It seeks damages for negligence and calls for a jury trial. This case raises critical concerns about the accountability of educational institutions in protecting children from abuse.

Florence Lawsuit Alleges 15-Year Cover-Up of Child Abuse at Maranatha Christian School

Florence, SC – A lawsuit has been filed in Darlington County against Maranatha Christian School and its affiliated entities, alleging a 15-year cover-up of child abuse perpetrated by a former childcare worker. The suit, submitted by the attorneys Robert F. Goings and Morgan Y. Drapeau of Goings Law Firm, names several individuals and organizations, including the Maranatha Childcare Center and First Free Will Baptist Church of Florence.

Among the defendants, Laurin Boyce, 73, a former nursery and toddler worker, is implicated in multiple counts of unlawful conduct towards children, assault, and battery. He accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, resulting in concurrent 90-day sentences with time served. Three other individuals associated with the school—Jessica Elmore, 32, the Childcare Development Director; Dawn Kirven, 51, the principal; and Lee Patrick, 49, the church’s pastor—are facing charges for failing to report child abuse and misconduct.

Background of the Abuse Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Boyce allegedly abused children for over a decade while the school leadership ignored or concealed the incidents from parents, social workers, and law enforcement authorities. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has reportedly discovered over 20 documented incidents of abuse, assault, or neglect by Boyce that the church allegedly covered up.

The troubling allegations detail severe actions against a child, including reports that Boyce physically assaulted a child by slamming their head into a crib and dragging the child out of the room. In instances where an employee witnessed the abuse, they reported it to the school administration, yet no decisive action was taken to address the situation.

In an alarming turn of events, the parents of the children involved were presented with manipulated surveillance footage that obscured significant portions of the abuse incidents. Kirven, the principal, reportedly obscured parts of the footage, thereby misleading the parents. However, upon requesting an unedited version of the video, the parents were able to see the shocking evidence of their child being violently removed from a crib and assaulted by Boyce.

Legal Actions and Consequences

The lawsuit seeks damages based on allegations of negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, as well as negligent hiring, retention, training, and supervision of staff. It also calls for a jury trial to assess both actual and punitive damages. The legal counsel for Maranatha Christian School has stated that they cannot provide specific comments on the ongoing lawsuit, expressing hope for future discussions as the case unfolds.

This case highlights severe issues surrounding mandatory reporting requirements within educational institutions and raises critical questions about accountability and transparency in childcare settings. The allegations seem to illustrate a troubling culture of concealment, which many argue presents serious implications for child safety and institutional integrity.

Next Steps

As this lawsuit progresses, the court and community will be closely monitoring how the involved institutions respond to these allegations. This case has amplified the voices of those advocating for stronger protections against child abuse in educational and childcare environments, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive measures to ensure children’s safety.