Maranatha Christian School Daycare Worker Pleads Guilty as Parents Sue Over Alleged 15-Year Pattern of Abuse

A former day-care worker at Maranatha Christian School in Florence, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to child abuse charges while a civil lawsuit alleges that school and church leaders had documented concerns about her conduct for nearly 15 years. The case has expanded from a criminal matter into a broader legal dispute regarding institutional accountability and the protection of minors.

In February 2025, Florence County deputies arrested day-care worker Laurin Boyce and three other individuals connected to Maranatha Christian School. Boyce was accused of abusing children in two incidents in January, while school principal Dawn Kirven, child-care development director Jessica Elmore, and First Free Will Baptist Church pastor Lee Patrick were accused of failing to report the abuse.

Boyce pleaded guilty in May 2025 to two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. A judge sentenced her to concurrent 90-day terms, and authorities released her after she received credit for 93 days served. The 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office stated that the plea was negotiated with the victims’ consent, and prosecutors dropped an assault charge as part of the agreement.

Eight days after the guilty plea, Austin and Carrie Royal, parents of one of the children, filed a civil lawsuit in Darlington County Court against Boyce, Maranatha Christian School, Maranatha Childcare Center, First Free Will Baptist Church, Patrick, Kirven, and Elmore. The complaint alleges that the January abuse was not an isolated event but part of a longer pattern of documented misconduct.

The Royals assert that records uncovered during the criminal investigation documented more than 20 incidents involving abuse, assault, or neglect by Boyce. They claim these records, which include employee incident reports dating to 2011, prove that Maranatha leadership was aware of the incidents but continued to employ her.

Among the records cited in the lawsuit is a December 2019 incident report in which a supervisor noted that she had warned Boyce about “putting her hands on the kids” and stated that such conduct was “the easiest way to get on the news, get arrested and get DSS called to our preschool.” The supervisor wrote that she did not suspend Boyce because the information was based on hearsay.

The lawsuit provides a more detailed account of the January 2025 incident that triggered the investigation. According to the complaint, another employee reported seeing Boyce assault a 20-month-old girl and informed Elmore, Kirven, and Patrick. The employee later contacted the child’s parents, who then requested to see surveillance footage.

These legal proceedings highlight the critical importance of vigilance and integrity in institutions entrusted with the care of children. As the community seeks justice and accountability, the situation underscores the biblical call to protect the vulnerable and uphold truth, reflecting principles found in Micah 6:8.

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