62-year-old woman arrested in death of Maylashia Hogg, a South Carolina teen mother-to-be
A woman was arrested more than four months after South Carolina teenager Maylashia Hogg and her unborn child were found dead, authorities announced Monday.
Jacqueline Reid, 62, has been charged with two counts of murder and has been booked into the Barnwell County Detention Center, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said in a news release.
Her arrest comes nearly 4 ½ months after the 17-year-old Hogg’s remains were found on February 18 in Barnwell, about 78 miles southwest of Columbia.
At the time of her death, Hogg was pregnant with a baby girl she planned to name Londyn Charity in honor 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 was representing 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 was listed in the warrant as multiple sharp force wounds and multiple stabs and incisions. Her death was ruled a homicide, the warrant shows.
Teen’s family spent months pushing for answers
Since Hogg’s death, her family has expressed disappointment with the way 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 been spending time with the family as recently as last week.
According to Rice, her cousin once lived across the street from the defendant. They’ve also had altercations in the past, Rice said.
The woman even showed up to spend time with the teenager’s family the day of her funeral, Rice said.
“I just want to know why,” Rice said. “Why would you do something like this and then come around the family? She came around the day that Maylashia was found. She came in the yard to Maylashia’s house, sitting with the family, watching them grieve in pain.”
Tip line opened for information
Authorities opened a tip line just over a month after the teenager was found with the hope of bringing in leads.
SLED said in a news release that Reid’s arrest came due to “a team of people working together tirelessly to find answers.”
Multiple departments within SLED worked on the case, including the Special Victims Unit, scientists from the SLED Forensic Services Lab, the SLED Behavioral Science Unit and more.
"No matter where you live, no matter where you're from, everybody in this state deserves an equal level of law enforcement service,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel in the news release. “Every case is important, and every victim deserves justice.”
SLED said its investigation is active and ongoing. The agency asks that anyone with information call the Maylashia Hogg tip line at (803) 896-0281 or email [email protected].
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].