MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A couple visiting Myrtle Beach spent their vacation in jail after police were notified that a 7-week-old infant in their care was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.
Arrest warrants for Michael Douglas Burkholder, 24, and Savannah Louel Searles, 23, say the two were vacationing in Myrtle Beach from April 3 through April 8, when a 7-week-old infant in their care was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center on April 5. Medical staff reported to police that the infant suffered a broken femur, and that the “injury was fresh and could not have occurred by accident.” The infant was taken to MUSC for further care.
The suspected child abusers were staying at the Dunes Village Resort while visiting Myrtle Beach, the warrant details. Investigators note that when they interviewed Searles, she claimed to have bathed the infant earlier that day and the baby was not hurt.
Searles and Burkholder were the only people to care for the infant during the time the baby was injured. Searles and Burkholder were each jailed on one count of unlawful neglect of a child.
The infant’s condition was not immediately known.
