South Carolina mom charged during search for missing baby

Sarah Lane Toney was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child on Wednesday, but searches held out hope the baby might still be found safe because right now the only information investigators have about the child is what the mother has told them, Horry County Police spokesman Lt. Raul Dennis said.

Crews are using special sonar equipment, along with boats, canoes and personal watercraft and are concentrating on a 1 square mile area, Dennis said.

The Coast Guard will join the search Thursday when it starts again at daybreak, as well as a helicopter from the State Law Enforcement Division, which will look for objects floating in the water, Dennis said.

Toney also has several arrests for shoplifting and traffic-related infractions like driving under the influence and hit and run, but state police records don't show jail sentences on those offenses.