Woman Sentenced For Leaving Children With Dead Body

SOUTH CAROLINA – A Loris mother was sentenced to 20 days in jail and given credit for time served after pleading guilty Thursday to cruelty to children. According to authorities, 31-year-old Belonda Renee Davis’ two children, ages 11 and 13, were found alone in a hotel room with the body of a dead man. 

Police say, in September 12, 2012, Horry County police and EMS responded at 7 a.m. to the Carolina Inn Hotel in Loris, where they found both young girls in a room, as well as the dead body of Paul Tebeau, 21. 

In addition, officers also found marijuana, a crack pipe, what appeared to be Sudafed, and unidentified white pills in a cigarette pack on the table next to the body, according to the report. Davis told police that Tebeau had smoked marijuana the night before, but did not see him take any other drugs. Police also found numerous prescription bottles in the room with Davis’ name on them.  

At the time of the incident, Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick said an autopsy was performed on Tebeau, but a cause of death was not determined pending the outcome of toxicology report. He estimated Tebeau died about an hour before his body was found.

At the time of the incident, Davis was taken into custody for allowing the children to be around the drugs and in an unsafe environment, according to the report. Police contacted Social Services and the children were taken into emergency protective custody. 

After her plea on Thursday, Davis was taken into custody and remains jailed at J. Reuben Long Detention Center, according to records.