Local

Court documents show Union Co. child abuse case expanding

UNION COUNTY, S.C. — Eyewitness News obtained court documents Friday that show the child abuse investigation into Wanda Sue Larson and Dorian Harper has grown.

The two were arrested in November after investigators said that a child in their care was found handcuffed to the front porch with a dead chicken tied around his neck.

The court order requires the State Division of Social Services, Gaston County Department of Social Services and Union County Department of Social Services to give the Union County Sheriff's Office more information so that investigators can see if other children in the couples care witnessed or experienced abuse.

According to the court order, dated Dec. 2, a judge ordered the DSS offices to release information including names, birth dates, and last known addresses for other children placed in Larson and Harpers home from 1998 and 2010. The paperwork said investigators are looking for information on approximately 36 children.

In the court order, the judge agreed with prosecutors who filed the motion, that based on the allegations in the current case "it is not unreasonable to believe that any or all of the 36 children who were placed in the defendants' home may have been victims of child abuse themselves or material witnesses to the abuse of other children."

The couple did have a licensed foster home when the children lived there.

At the time of their arrest, Larson was an employee of the Union County DSS. She was fired after her arrest.

Also in November, a man named Michael told Eyewitness News that he lived in Larson and Harper's home for years and that the couple adopted him. He said that he never witnessed any abuse. Channel 9 tried to reach him Friday, but was not able to.

Channel 9 also tried to reach the attorneys for Harper and Larson but has not heard back.

The Union County DSS told Channel 9 it had no comment on this court order at this time.

Gaston County DSS said it could only say it has complied with that order.