Woman charged after body of 4-year-old found in closet

Police in Greenville are investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl.

Chief Marcus Turner said Catrica Hardy, 43, is in custody, charged with manslaughter and child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm.

 The investigation began when officers got a call around 4:30 p.m. Sunday about a concern for the welfare of a 4-year-old girl who hadn’t been seen for weeks. Officers went to a home in the 2000 block of Johnnie Lane to speak with a relative who was keeping the child.

Police were later led to a closet where the remains of the child were found.

Turner said the father had sole custody of the child, identified as Zyiah Smith. But because of financial struggles, he entrusted his cousin, Hardy, to watch and care for the child until he got back on his feet, according to Turner.

The State Crime Lab will perform an autopsy to determine how the child died.

Hardy is being held at the Washington County Regional Correctional Facility