Mother wanted after cocaine found in child, family speaks to WIS

CAYCE, SC (WIS) - A two-year-old ingests cocaine, and police blame the child's mom. But they don't know where she is.

WIS News 10 spoke to the mother's family, and they believe there's more to this story.

Officials say this is the second time they have had warrants out for the arrest of Katrina Denise Jivers.

"She's a real good mother, she just made a mistake, one simple mistake. She's lost both her kids," says Jivers' uncle, Rossevelt Jivers.

And that mistake, according to Cayce police, was smoking pot. A few weeks ago, officers say they caught Katrina Jivers in a hotel room that was full of smoke, and her nine-month-old son and two-year-old daughter were with her.

Both children were turned over to DSS, and officers say the baby tested positive for marijuana and died later that day.

"Instead of saying, 'hey we made a mistake,' they're trying to stick her with something to cover themselves, cover their tracks," says Rossevelt.

Cayce police insist they followed protocol and are now waiting on autopsy reports for a cause of death.

Jivers bonded out of jail, but now she's facing new charges. Police say her two-year-old, who is still in DSS custody, tested positive for cocaine.

But Jivers is nowhere to be found.

"Okay, she shouldn't have been smoking marijuana. She's ready to pay for that. Here it is now, they're taking both of her kids, one's dead. How would you feel?" asks Rossevelt.

Police say they feel for the family, but they still want the mom who left her house behind, behind bars.

"I have no idea, no idea, all I know is police came yesterday with more charges, I haven't seen her, haven't seen her," says Rossevelt.

Cayce police say they simply can't figure out where Katrina Jivers is. They have searched the area around her house, but say they're not sure if she is in the area.

One of Jivers' aunts says she is going to court trying to get custody of the two-year-old girl.

If you have any information on Jivers' whereabouts, you are asked to call 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Reported by Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield