On February 21, 2025, the Beaufort City Council released an open letter defending the Beaufort Police Department’s handling of a recent missing child case. The letter, which describes the public criticism as “unfortunate and misguided,” addresses some concerns but also leaves some residents feeling their questions are being dismissed rather than addressed.
The case involved two children who were reported missing on February 16 and were found safe in Florida on February 19. The council emphasized that “no less than six Beaufort police officers” worked the case, coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division). However, the parents of the female missing child publicly criticized the police response in videos posted on social media.
Parents’ Frustration and Accusations
In a video posted on February 17, the parents of the 12-year-old girl accused the Beaufort Police Department of refusing to investigate the case, claiming that officers told them they do not investigate runaways. The parents urged the public to “put pressure on the City of Beaufort” to take action, saying, “The City of Beaufort Police Department is doing nothing.” They also thanked community members, including strangers, who assisted in the search.
A follow-up video from the father on February 18 reinforced these claims. He stated that the message from the City felt like, “We’re not doing anything, you’re going to have to handle this yourself.” In the video, the father accused Police Chief Stephenie Price of declining to follow up on a lead that could have proven that his daughter was in danger, which could have escalated the case to meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert. Also according to the father, Chief Price condescended to him for not being in Florida, despite other agencies advising against it. He expressed gratitude to the community, saying, “We wouldn’t have the information we have without the people who are helping us.”
Council’s Explanation for Not Issuing an AMBER Alert
The City Council’s letter explained that the decision not to issue an AMBER Alert was made because the case did not meet the criteria set by SLED. The letter stated:
“The first requisite criterion is that the child must have been abducted, i.e., taken against her will. There was every indication that the child had not been taken against her will, but rather that she left willingly with the other child, a known associate.”
However, the father’s video suggests that a potential lead might have justified an AMBER Alert if it had been pursued. The council did not directly address this claim in the letter.
Communication Concerns
The council’s letter insists that officers maintained regular contact with the families, but the videos and comments on social media suggest otherwise. The father’s remarks imply a gap between the official timeline of the investigation included with City Council’s open letter and the families’ experience, raising questions about the transparency and urgency of the police response. In fact, the timeline included with the City Council’s letter makes it appear that City Councilman Josh Scallate followed up more with the family than police officials.
Concerns About Safety May Have Been Justified
New information obtained by Beaufort Insider suggests that the parents of the 12-year-old girl may have been right to be concerned about their daughter’s safety while she was two states away with the 16-year-old boy. According to sources, after returning from Florida, the male runaway was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office following a car chase.
This revelation raises further questions about the Beaufort Police Department’s decision not to escalate the case to an AMBER Alert and adds weight to the parents’ claims that the situation warranted a more urgent response. The City Council’s letter, which emphasized that the children had left willingly and downplayed concerns about their safety, does not appear to anticipate these developments.
In addition, sources say that the parents of the female child are pursuing charges against the boy for events related to the trip to Florida.
As the community learns more about the circumstances surrounding the case, the pressure is likely to increase on city officials to provide a more thorough explanation of the decisions made during the investigation.
Public Trust and the Path Forward
Despite the explanations in the City Council’s letter, many residents remain dissatisfied. Comments on the City of Beaufort Police Department’s official Facebook page reflect ongoing frustration. One user questioned the criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert, expressing concern over the perceived lack of urgency. Another commenter criticized the communication between law enforcement and the families, suggesting that more proactive updates could have alleviated public concern.
The City Council’s letter emphasizes confidence in the police department’s handling of the case, but the community’s response indicates a need for increased urgency, as well as improved transparency and communication in future incidents.
The safe recovery of the children is a relief to the community, but the debate over how the situation was handled appears far from over.
Hear more about this story and more on our podcast Beaufort Voice. This story and other recent news will be discussed on the “Beaufort Under Fire: What’s Going on With Local Leadership?” episode.
