Theodore Sage Raynor death: Dad charged with homicide of 7-week-old boy, mom arrested for child neglect
SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA: In Seneca, a man has been accused of killing a seven-week-old baby. According to the deputies, Theodore "Theo" Sage Raynor died of a blunt force on his head. As an investigation into the case continues, Oconee County sheriff’s office deputies have charged Michael Shane Blackwell Jr with homicide by child abuse. Shockingly, as per the reports, officials of OCSO responded to the scene along with the coroner, to investigate the death of an infant via cardiac arrest on Monday, December 26.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Child Death Task Force was also notified to assist with the investigation. Upon arrival at the location, deputies found the infant was unresponsive. The officials present at the scene gave him CPR but it didn't help and later the infant was transported to the hospital for further examination. There he was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said as per WSPA. The incident report as per an outlet says the parents told investigators that the infant was fine when they laid him down to sleep, but was later found unresponsive.
READ MORE
Woman stabs her three children to death, kills herself after husband goes out to buy TV for family
Virginia mom arrested as 4-year-old son dies after eating THC gummies!
An autopsy conducted on Wednesday morning revealed that Raynor died from blunt-force head trauma, and his death was classified as a homicide, according to the coroner. Suspecting foul play, during the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the residence and unlawful narcotics were located inside, the report mentioned. The parents of the deceased infant, Sheila Raynor, and Michael Blackwell Jr were taken into custody and were both charged with unlawful negligence towards a child or helpless person, possession of cocaine, and other related offenses. Raynor and Blackwell were both booked into the Oconee County Detention Center where they are being held on $55,000 bonds.
Investigators determined that Raynor suffered child abuse or neglect under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life at the hands of Blackwell, Counton2 reported. Blackwell is still being held in the same location and was served with an additional warrant for homicide by child abuse as per WBTV. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Child Death Task Force, and the Oconee County Coroner's Office continue looking into Raynor's case of death. Anyone with information is asked to call the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at 864-638-4111.