Picture: The Orangeburg Times and Democrat
Shaquan Duley
Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) - The bodies of two small children were pulled from a car in the the Edisto River Monday morning, and deputies are investigating the circumstances leading up to the deaths.
Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams say a call came in at 6:40 a.m. from the children's mother, 29-year-old Shaquan Duley, about the incident.
Coroner Samuetta Marshall identified the children as 18-month-old Ja'van T. Duley and 2-year-old Devean C. Duley, both of Orangeburg. Marshall said a cause of death would be announced following autopsies on Tuesday.
Sheriff Larry Williams tells WLTX Shaquan Duley is being held and charged with leaving the scene of an accident. She faces no additional charges at this time.
The location she gave officers was a boat landing on Shillings Bridge Road near the Edisto River. Emergency crews responded, found the car, and began pulling the vehicle from the river.
Officers say the children were found in their car seats.
The woman reportedly told officers that she had an accident and walked a quarter of a mile before calling anyone for help. Officers, however, say they have found no evidence of a car accident which would have led to the vehicle coming to rest in the water.
Roads in that area were blocked for several hours while officers investigated.
Sheriff Williams will hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday to discuss any new developments in the case. Of course, News19 will have complete coverage both on air and online.