NORTH, S.C. - Officials are seeking the woman they believe dropped a toddler off at a North parsonage on Monday, alleging she stole the preacher’s debit card on the way out.

Swansea Police have obtained a warrant against Misty Lynn Shealy Millender, 29, of 1734 South Bound Road, charging her with shoplifting. In addition, North Police Chief Mark Fallaw said, “North PD is obtaining warrants on Millender for one count of larceny, four counts of financial transaction card fraud and one count of unlawful conduct towards a child.”

The toddler, known simply as “Baby Zachary,” was treated and released from a Columbia hospital Monday night. The child, who is estimated to be about a year old, has been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

Officials were initially concerned about the child’s health because of the way he acted. The child was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland as a precautionary measure, but doctors said his injuries were typical for a toddler, Fallaw said.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, a woman walked to the North Pentecostal Holiness Church parsonage. She expressed her desire to leave her baby with the Rev. Bobbie Parnell.

“I was in the front room of the parsonage ... when a knock came on the front door,” Parnell said. “I saw the young lady holding a baby and a diaper bag. I thought she wanted money.

“She said ‘I don’t feel like I am a good mother and I want to give you my baby.’ She was very nervous and skittish with me.”

Parnell said he took the woman and child to the back of the parsonage to his wife Amy, and Loray Mask, wife of North First Baptist Church’s pastor. The women were watching their children play.

“It has hit home because there are so many people out there who want a child. To see a child left like that, it will break anybody’s heart. It broke my heart to see it because he was such a precious boy,” he said.

Fallaw alleges the woman stole a debit card from Parnell’s vehicle and used it at least four times to purchase beer and liquor. She then drove to Swansea, where police allege she stole 29 lottery tickets at the Li’l Cricket.

Parnell said he was shocked to find his debit card missing the next morning.

“She stole enough from me to make it hard on my bank account,” Parnell said. “You do a good deed but ... when it comes down to the end of it all, you can’t do a wrong and get by with it.”

The Rev. Brett Mask of First Baptist said during nightly prayers there was a tap on his shoulder from his four-year old son, Tanner.

“Daddy, don’t forget about Zachary,” Mask said. “As Christians we are commanded to support widows and orphans. He asked if little Zachary was an orphan and I told him in a sense he is.”

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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