Richland County (WLTX) - A Richland County woman has been arrested and charged with the death of her infant.
Deputies arrested 37-year-old Charlene Green, charging her with homicide by child abuse.
Investigators say last October, she gave birth to the baby girl on the sidewalk of the Family Dollar store on Farrow Road in Columbia. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says Green was inside the store "commiting criminal acts," when she realized she was giving birth to her child.
Investigators say that's when Green walked outside, laid on the ground, and gave birth.
"The baby's body was just completely eaten up by cocaine," Lott said, "Cocaine was found in the baby's system."
Authorities have determined the child died as a result of Green's cocaine use.
"She killed this child, every time she used drugs, she was killing this child," Lott said.
Green was 27 weeks along in the pregnancy.
"It's probably the cruelest thing you could do, kill a child," Lott said, "It was murder."
Lott says the woman was arrested in a drug area that's frequented by drug users and dealers.
"That tells me that she's continued her drug use," Lott said.
It took several months to make the arrest because they were waiting for test results. The father of the baby is unknown. Lott says Green told investigators that she used drugs.
Lott says she has another child that tested positive for cocaine. He says she's also served time in the past.
"It's very disturbing knowing that this is the second child she's had that's tested positive for cocaine," Lott said. "We are very fortunate that that child survived," Lott said, "but the other did not."
The sheriff said Green's life consisted of "using drugs and having babies."
Lott says Green has had drug and property convictions in the past.
2/22/2008 10:36:36 PM
