Caretaker accused of lying after SC woman with dementia found alive in woods

LATTA, S.C. — The caretaker of an 85-year-old woman has been charged with lying to police about the woman's disappearance.

Latta police Chief Derrick Cartwright tells news outlets that 62-year-old Liliah Smith gave police information that falsely led them to believe Jaxie Rogers disappeared from a Latta parking lot last week.

(Jaxie Rodgers)

Smith told authorities that she left Rogers in a car while she went inside a grocery store and returned to see Rogers driving away.

[RELATED: Missing for days, SC woman with dementia found alive in NC woods]

Cartwright says security video disproved Smith's account and led investigators to determine Rogers had been last seen near Smith's home.

Rogers' abandoned car was found Tuesday near a North Carolina river. Rogers was later found alive in a nearby wooded area. Officials said Rogers may have traveled through high water to get there.

Associated Press