Springdale Police Department arrest mother after her toddler found walking down the street at daybreak Friday morning

Springdale, SC 12/06/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Officers with the Springdale Police Department arrested Jayda Gary, 27, on charges of unlawful conduct to a child after a good Samaritan found her 2.5-year-old child walking down Oakdale Road alone Friday morning right at daybreak. When the child was found, Springdale officers quickly responded and notified Lexington EMS. They transported the child to Lexington Medical Center to be checked out because of the freezing weather at the time.

According to Chief Andrew “Bear” Richbourgh of the Springdale PD, they found the home where the child had come from and discovered that no one was home. They obtained search warrants for the home and later located drugs inside. When they did find the child’s mother, she was placed under arrest and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center where she was booked on the unlawful conduct charges. More charges may be forthcoming.

The child was found to be in good health and was released to the SC Department of Social Services.

Jayda Gary