A South Carolina mother, Helena Nichole Hoyle, 27, was arrested on August 14 and charged with two counts of trafficking persons and two counts of child neglect. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation following a report of a sexual assault on a seven-year-old.
During interviews with deputies, Hoyle's daughters, aged four and seven, alleged that they had been sexually assaulted multiple times by unidentified men. According to an affidavit, the older daughter reported the assaults, and the younger daughter stated she witnessed her sister being assaulted. While the younger child had limited ability to articulate specific details, she reportedly corroborated significant aspects of her older sister's account.
Hoyle is accused of being present in the room during at least one assault, allegedly scrolling on her phone. In addition to the alleged sexual abuse, the children also described their living conditions. One of the victims reportedly stated that she chipped a tooth but was never taken to a dentist. The affidavit further details that the home lacked running water, dirty dishes were left in the sink, and the children were made to use a bucket for sanitation as there was no bathroom.
Hoyle was booked into the Berkeley County Jail, with bail set at $250,000. Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing.