Death of infant "Baby Grace," found in creek, ruled homicide

SOCASTEE, S.C. --The death of an infant known as "Baby Grace" who was found in a South Carolina creek was ruled a homicide on Friday, officials say.

Robert Edge of the Horry County Coroner's Office told 48 Hours' Crimesider the finding came after an autopsy in Charleston. He didn't immediately release the cause of death, but said there were indications "the child died at the hands of another."

On Tuesday, the girl's mother, Sarah Lane Toney, went to a home about 500 yards across the creek and swamp from her house near Myrtle Beach and told a woman she had put her baby, Grace, into the creek, police said.

On Thursday, a portion of the neighbor's 911 call was released, reports CBS affiliate WLTX. In it, the neighbor says Toney came to her back porch and was acting oddly.

"She's saying call the police because she just came to the river and had a baby with her," the caller told a dispatcher. "And now she doesn't have a baby. I'm not sure if she wants something. I have no idea, but you need to send someone over here please."

Toney was taken into custody and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. The child's body was recovered Thursday after a search. A judge denied bond for Toney Thursday before the body was found.

Toney asked officers at her bond hearing whether her baby had been found, then told the judge she should be released from jail because she didn't plan to leave the area and needed to take care of her older daughter, who was turned over to her father after she reported her baby disappeared in the water.

"I went into the water with her, and I was unable to hold on to her," Toney said at her bond hearing. "I didn't intentionally put her in any danger. I was going with her, and I wasn't able to hold on to her when the water sucked me in."

Horry County police Chief Saundra Rhodes said her officers will consult with prosecutors, but she expects Toney to face charges in her daughter's death.

Edge said the child's cause of death is expected to be released within the next day.

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