Police tape

Toddler Safe After Double Murder, Overnight Hunt for Suspect

South Carolina authorities have made an arrest in the deaths of man and a woman near Eutawville, while a toddler believed to have been taken from the home was found safe in another county.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said the suspect, whom he didn’t identify, faces two counts of murder and additional charges, WCSC reported.

Deputies were called to the home Wednesday and found Jean Ann Brown, 66, and Raymond Brown, 62, dead at the scene.

Investigators tracked the one of the victims’ cars to North Charleston, about 50 miles away, and from there located the suspect, sheriff’s spokesman Richard Walker said.

The 1 1/2 year-old boy believed taken from the home was located safe in St George, about 20 miles from Eutawville, and reunited with his family, Walker said.

The Times and Democrat reported that the boy was found sitting in a car belonging to a convenience store employee at about 7 p.m. The employee called 911 after she stepped outside for her break and walked past her car, noticing the toddler inside. She said she had left the windows rolled down because of the oppressive heat, St George Chief of Police Brett Camp said.

“He was confused and upset,” Camp said of the toddler, who was wearing a diaper and a shirt.

Dorchester County paramedics checked the boy out and found that he was in good health. Officers spent about two hours trying to locate family members, Camp said. They posted information online and called in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the state Department of Social Services for help. The boy was placed in emergency protective custody until officials located his family.

“This agency worked throughout the night on this case, which resulted in this subject being taken into custody,” Ravenell said. “This is what you can expect if you consider doing something like this.”

Autopsies are scheduled for the Browns on Monday.

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