Two Local Babysitters Wanted for Child Cruelty

Richmond County authorities are looking for two women who are accused of abusing two young boys who had been left in their care.

The alleged incidents reportedly occurred at the family home of 22-year-old Rakimma Hadilyah Galloway and her 21-year-old sister, Jada Galloway, both of the 3300 block of Tate Road.

According to the police incident report, the 3 and 4-year-old boys had been left with the Galloway sisters while their father was in prison. The boys' mother, who was in Florida at the time, met the Galloways in Columbia, SC to pick up her sons.  That's when she says she noticed both children were covered in new and old bruises.  One had a black eye with a small cut under it, one had several sores and cuts on his head, while the other had a swollen hand.

The children were taken to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Investigators say the father at one point tried to call the Galloways to check on the boys, but their phone numbers had been changed.  The parents share custody of the children, but the mother said she hadn't seen them in more than a month.

Authorities are now looking for the Galloways.  Rakimma is 5'4" and weighs 210 pounds.  Jada is 5'0" tall and weighs 230 pounds.  They are known to frequent the Tate Road area in Richmond County as well as Florence, South Carolina.

Contact the Richmond County Sheriff's Office if you have any information.  (706) 821-1020 or (706) 821-1080.