Rock Hill woman accused of child abuse

A Rock Hill woman is accused of repeatedly abusing two children.

Phyillis Howard, 61, was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and placed in the Rock Hill city jail, according to Rock Hill Police. She was released Wednesday under $5,000 bond.

The York County Department of Social Services in August forwarded allegations of physical abuse by Howard to investigators, according to a police report. The referral alleged that a 12-year-old child “made disclosures of physical abuse” by Howard, who had custody of the children.

The two children, a brother and sister, made corroborating statements about the alleged abuse by Howard, police said. Among “continued abuse,” they said, the most recent incident happened in July.

Howard denied the allegations, the report states. Detectives arrested her Wednesday. The children were placed in emergency protective custody.

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Rock Hill woman accused of child abuse."