WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Woman arrested after Cerebral Palsy donation box swiped

Woman arrested after Cerebral Palsy donation box swiped

IRMO, SC (WIS) - She's only about seven years old, but with some help from the woman next to her, the little girl commits an unthinkable crime.

The woman police say helped her daughter steal a Cerebral Palsy donation box from a St. Andrews convenience store is in jail, according to police.

"I was very dismayed, the first time I saw it. I was sad," says Irmo Police Chief Brian Buck.

Lexington County Major John Allard says 28-year-old Valerie Lakeisha Murphy was arrested late Saturday night by Columbia Police.

Murphy is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on $10,000 bond, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and petty larceny.

"I'm glad we made an arrest. I'm glad we closed this case," says Buck. "I'm glad we're able to hold the mother accountable for her actions. We think she's the most culpable in the events because she's the adult and I hope we can do something to correct the child's behavior."

Auhorities are not sure if the liittle girl's mom put her up to it, or just turned a blind eye when she took the box.

The disturbing drama unfolds on surveillance video of a Circle K. You can see the little girl walk into the St. Andrews Road gas station with a woman she calls mom.

The clerk is handed a lottery ticket and is distracted. The little girl moves closer to the counter. Finally, she reaches for the cerebral palsy charity box.

She isn't about to make a donation. "The woman actually closes the lid on it for her," Chief Buck says. "And in just a minute, she's going to start pulling it across the counter-top."

But the little girl appears confused, possibly nervous. You can see her repeatedly looking up at mom. Finally, the child again reaches for the box again, this time, sliding it right off the counter.

Chief Buck says, "It's almost like an urban legend. You hear other people say I heard my friend saw video that showed something like this, but you never see it first-hand. To see it first-hand is really discouraging."

And police believe a man was also involved. He is seen at the counter with the two women, and then leaves.

Investigators believe the girl gave the box to the man, who was waiting outside. Chief Buck says that man hasn't been identified yet, but police say they are getting closer.

According to store personnel, the box may have contained as much as $50.00. Buck says the mother told him she returned it to circle k, but they haven't seen it.

Buck says the little girl is in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

He says the Irmo Police Department is planning on talking with the solicitor's office to see if there is some sort of way to get the little girl into the juvenile justice system.

The local Circle K stores collect the money for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and all of the money collected stays in the local community.

Reported by Dan Tordjman and Trey Paul

Updated by Logan Smith