6-week-old baby boy surrendered in Richland County under SC Daniel’s Law
A 6-week-old baby boy was surrendered Wednesday under Daniel’s Law, the Department of Social Services said.
The baby was surrendered at Prisma Health-Richland County. The boy is Black and weighed 10 pounds and 8 ounces and was 20.67 inches long.
The boy was born April 7, but the mother decided to surrender the child this week. A hearing on permanent placement of the child is scheduled for July 16.
Connelly-Anne Ragley, the chief external affairs officer and legislative liaison for DSS, said the mother made the best choice for her, the child and the family that will ultimately adopt the baby.
“She’s a hero, not a villain,” Ragley said.
The boy was the second baby surrendered this year in the state under the Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act, known as Daniel’s Law, which allows parents to surrender a baby that is 60 days old or younger at a hospital, fire station, police station or staffed house of worship. The first baby this year was on May 5 in Georgetown County.
Last year five babies were surrendered. In 2023, eight babies were surrendered, but that year included one set of twins.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM.
