Charleston Parents Charged in Disturbing Child Endangerment Cases

News Summary

Recent child endangerment cases in Charleston, SC, have raised serious concerns about child safety. Multiple parents have been charged with neglect, including instances of children found wandering alone and living in unsafe conditions. The community is alarmed as these shocking stories unfold, highlighting the urgent need for better protection of vulnerable children.

Charleston Parents in Hot Water as Child Endangerment Cases Emerge

Charleston, SC, has recently seen some alarming cases of child endangerment that are raising serious concerns about the safety of children in our neighborhoods. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has been busy responding to reports of neglect, and the stories are both shocking and heartbreaking.

Little One Found Wandering Alone

Imagine a one-year-old child, barely able to walk, found wandering unsupervised near Ashley River Road and Old Parsonage Road. That is exactly what authorities encountered earlier this week when calls were made about the tiny tot’s well-being. The sheriff’s deputies jumped into action and swiftly got the child to a local hospital for needed care.

It turns out that the child’s mother, 31-year-old Taylor Gallagher, and her boyfriend, also 31-year-old Elio Acanfora Jr., have both been charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. They made a court appearance for bond hearings on March 4, 2025, where Gallagher’s bond was set at $100,000 while Acanfora Jr. received a bond of $50,000.

Living Conditions Raise Eyebrows

In an entirely different case, just across state lines in Charleston, West Virginia, another couple has found themselves in serious legal trouble. Lahna Sanders, 24, and Andrew Scott-Alston, 27, have also been charged with gross child neglect for creating a risk of injury to their four children. Their home painted a bleak picture—unclean and unsafe, filled with drug paraphernalia, insects crawling over food, and even feces in the toilet and shower. Yikes!

As authorities intervened, all four children were quickly removed from this unfit environment and are now under the care of Child Protective Services. Sanders and Scott-Alston are currently held on hefty cash-only bonds of $150,000. They will have a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 18, 2025, where they will face the music.

Shocking Restraint Practices

Adding to the grim portrait of neglect, 54-year-old Laura Southworth was arrested when police discovered an 8-year-old girl in handcuffs at their home on Bridge Road. This young girl alleged she had been abused and neglected, claiming that Southworth had handcuffed her as a form of punishment. The handcuffs were reportedly too tight and had restrained the girl for almost 13 hours! Such measures are beyond troubling.

During the police investigation, it became evident that Southworth’s living conditions were extremely messy and unsuitable for children. She is now being held on a $10,000 bail.

Moms in Trouble for Neglect

And it doesn’t stop there! Capree Moss, 22, from Charleston, recently pleaded guilty to child neglect after her children were discovered to have suffered significant injuries during a wellness check. The injuries, affecting her toddlers aged 3 and 1, occurred between November 17 and November 21, 2023. Disturbingly, neither Moss nor her boyfriend sought medical help for the children during that critical timeframe.

As a consequence, Moss is facing a sentencing date set for October 10, 2024, potentially facing one to five years in prison. It’s a heavy price to pay for neglecting the very ones who rely on us the most.

Communities & Consequences

These stories are a stark reminder of the responsibilities parents have to protect and nurture their children. The system is working hard to intervene when children’s safety is at stake, but it raises questions about what else can be done to prevent such alarming situations in the first place. It certainly seems like Charleston, and neighboring towns, have their work cut out for them in ensuring the safety of all our little ones.

As these cases unfold, one can only hope that justice will be served, and that these children can find a safe environment where they can grow and thrive.

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Additional Resources

• WCHS TV: Photos Reveal Deplorable Conditions in Charleston Home
• Google Search: Child Endangerment
• WV Metro News: Three of Four More Children Discovered in Child Abuse and Neglect Case
• Wikipedia: Child Abuse
• WSAZ: Woman Charged After Child Found with Handcuffs
• Google News: Child Neglect
• Live 5 News: Woman Charged in Death of Diabetic Teen Girl
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Protective Services
• Fox 17: Homeschooled Children Found in Charleston Home