Woman accused of being too drunk to care for paralyzed daughter

CLOVER, S.C. — A woman is accused of being too drunk to care for her paralyzed daughter, the Herald in Rock Hill reported.

Police were called on March 29 to the home of Stephanie Johnson, 29, by a caretaker of her 6-year-old girl, who requires around-the-clock care.

The caretaker told police Johnson returned home 40 minutes after the caretaker was scheduled to leave. The caretaker described Johnson as being "highly intoxicated" because her speech was slurred and she could not maintain her balance. The caretaker said Johnson went into a bedroom and "passed out," according the Herald in Rock Hill.

The caretaker said she could not leave the girl alone because she was hooked to a life support system that had to be continuously monitored, the report states.

The caretaker told police the girl is paralyzed from the neck down after she was injured in a car accident when she was 2, the Herald in Rock Hill reported.

Police took the girl from the home. She was placed in emergency protective custody and she was taken to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte.

Johnson was arrested Wednesday and charged with unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person. Her daughter has been placed in DSS custody.

WSOC