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South Carolina Kidnapping/Abduction Laws

Kidnapping is the crime of taking a person against their will to an undisclosed location.  This may be done for ransom or in furtherance of another crime, or in connection with a child custody dispute.

According to the laws of South Carolina, whoever shall unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct or carry away any other person by any means whatsoever without authority of law, except when a minor is seized or taken by his parent, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for a period not to exceed thirty years unless sentenced for murder as provided in Section 16-3-20[i].

Further, if two or more persons enter into an agreement, confederation, or conspiracy to violate the provisions of Section 16-3-910 and any of such persons do any overt act towards carrying out such unlawful agreement, confederation, or conspiracy, each such person shall be guilty of a felony.  Upon conviction, such persons shall be punished in like manner as provided for the violation of Section 16-3-910[ii].

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Missing Persons Information Center assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.

[i] S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-910

[ii] S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-920


Inside South Carolina Kidnapping/Abduction Laws