A Greenville woman has been taken into custody after police found the remains of a four-year-old girl in a closet over the weekend.
Authorities were notified of a concern for the welfare of Zyiah Smith at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, whose relatives were said to live in the 2000 block of Johnnie Lane.
Upon arrival at the residence, the relatives informed officers that they had not seen Smith in several weeks as the four-year-old was allegedly staying with her father’s cousin, 43-year-old Catrica Hardy.
According to Chief Marcus Turner, Smith’s father had entrusted his child to Hardy for the time being due to financial troubles.
Further investigation by police resulted in the discovery of what appeared to be a child’s remains in a closet, resulting in Hardy’s arrest.
Hardy has since been charged with manslaughter and child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm. She is currently being held at the Washington County Regional Correctional Facility while she waits for her initial hearing.
The cause of the Smith’s death has not been released at this time as the State Crime Lab conducts an autopsy.
