Body of South Carolina baby taken into creek found

SOCASTEE, SC (WTVD) -- Rescuers in South Carolina say they've found the body of a missing 5-month-old baby that was allegedly lost in a creek.

WPDE-TV reports that the body of baby Grace was found close to the house where her mother, Sarah Toney, said she lost her in the waters.

"All of us have a sense of peace knowing that we can lay this baby to rest," Chief Chief Saundra Rhodes with the Horry County Police Department told WPDE.

Police were called to the creek near Socastee, west of Myrtle Beach, on Tuesday by a resident who found the child's mother on her back porch and was told by her that she went in to the creek with the baby but no longer had her.

Thirty-three-year-old Sarah Lane Toney of Myrtle Beach is already in custody and is facing several charges including unlawful conduct toward a child. Police say they expect charges against Toney will be upgraded now that they've found the body of the child.

During a court hearing Toney said she had gone in to the water with her daughter but couldn't hold on to her in the rushing water. Efforts by rescue workers were hampered yesterday due to bad weather in the area.