Body of 3-year-old girl to return home

The body of 3-year-old Serenity Richardson will be flown back to her hometown of Detroit today for burial.

Family members say donations from both residents of South Carolina and Michigan made the trip possible. Anna Richardson, Serenity's grandmother, said today that she does not know how much was raised.

Serenity died Tuesday night in Summerville as a result of full-body blunt force trauma, authorities said. Summerville Police charged the girl's godmother, 23-year-old Erica Mae Butts with homicide by child abuse on Wednesday. On Friday they charged Shanita Latrice Cunningham, who also lives at the Congaree Road house where Serenity's lifeless body was first found.

Both women are being held without bail at the Charleston County Detention Center.

Family members say Serenity's mother left the child with her godmother in South Carolina while she moved from one home to another in Detroit.

Anna Richardson thanked everyone for allowing her granddaughter to return home.

"We really appreciate everyone's support," she said. "Everyone has been so wonderful to our family."

Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or aparas@postandcourier.com.