Woman arrested in death of South Carolina teen

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 2 minutes read

A woman has been arrested more than four months after South Carolina teenager Maylashia Hogg and her unborn child were found dead, authorities said Monday.

Jacqueline Reid, 62, was charged with two counts of murder and booked into the Barnwell County Detention Center, the South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement said in a news release.

His arrest comes nearly four and a half months after the remains of Hogg, 17, were found Feb. 18 in Barnwell, about 78 miles southwest of Columbia.

At the time of her death, Hogg was pregnant with a baby girl whom she planned to name Londyn Charity in honour of the teenager's late mother.

The Barnwell Police Department initially handled the case before the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) took over.

It was not immediately clear who represented Reid in court.

According to an arrest warrant, Hogg was last seen on Feb. 8 near Reid's home in Barnwell. Authorities believe Reid stabbed Hogg that same day. The teen was 40 weeks pregnant at the time.

Investigators searched the defendant's home and found forensic evidence.

Hogg's cause of death is listed in the arrest warrant as multiple sharp object injuries, multiple stab wounds and incisions. His death was ruled a homicide, according to the arrest warrant.

The teenager's family spent months searching for answers

Since Hogg's death, his family has expressed disappointment at how the investigation was progressing. For months, they had no cause of death or death certificate.

Ja'Nearia Rice, Hogg's cousin, told USA TODAY Tuesday that Reid had spent time with the family as recently as last week.

According to Rice, his cousin used to live across the street from the defendant. They also had altercations in the past, Rice said.

The woman even showed up to spend time with the teen's family on the day of her funeral, Rice said.

“I just want to know why,” Rice said. “Why do something like that and then come to the family? She came the day Maylashia was found. She came to the yard of Maylashia’s house, sat with the family, watched them cry in pain.”

Opening of a helpline to obtain information

Authorities opened a hotline just over a month after the teenager was found, hoping to provide leads.

SLED said in a news release that Reid's arrest was due to the work of “a team of people working tirelessly together to find answers.”

Several SLED departments worked on the case, including the Special Victims Unit, scientists from the SLED Forensic Services Laboratory, the SLED Behavioral Sciences Unit, and many others.

“No matter where you live, no matter where you come from, everyone in this state deserves an equal level of service from law enforcement,” SLED Chief Mark Keel said in the news release. “Every case matters and every victim deserves justice.”

SLED said its investigation is ongoing. The agency is asking anyone with information to call the Maylashia Hogg Hotline at (803) 896-0281 or email [email protected].

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She hails from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send him an email at [email protected].

The teenager's family spent months searching for answers

Opening of a helpline to obtain information

Lina Portman

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