YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Three young children who were abducted by a family member from an apartment in Fort Mill were found safe Monday morning, York County deputies announced.
Jami'la Earvin is accused of taking three children from an apartment on Bromley Village Drive around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, the York County Sheriff's Office said Monday morning. Investigators say Earvin did not have permission to take the children anywhere.
Detectives said Earvin abducted a 7-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl and a 9-month-old baby. The children were found safe Monday morning. Earvin was taken into custody and will face kidnapping charges, the sheriff's office announced. The children are going to be checked by paramedics as a precaution.
But Earvin's family believes she is innocent and says they did not tell law enforcement that the children were kidnapped.
Earvin's sister said in a press conference that Earvin was babysitting the kids this weekend but when they had been gone for around 12 hours they called police out of concern. She asked for a welfare check because Earvin is dealing with a mental illness but was blindsided when detectives charged Earvin with kidnapping.
Civil rights activist John Barnett read a statement from Earvin's mother, who he says was the one who initially called deputies.
SOT: John Barnett – Civil Rights activist 14:49:45:07
"I am considered to be the victim in this case, but I am formally speaking out to inform the public that I am totally against the charges that were made against her," read Barnett. "I am here informing the public that the interview process was taken out of context and distorted by law enforcement in York County."
WCNC Charlotte reached out to the Solicitor's office and the York County sheriff's office for statements regarding the case but hasn't heard back yet
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