Update 10/12/2009: Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Richland County Coroner Gary Watts announced that around 5:00 PM October 12th, that the two year old victim of child abuse died at Palmetto Health Richland.  Additional charges will be forthcoming, pending an autopsy.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the arrest of Danny Nichols (DOB 2-6-87) on charges of infliction of great bodily injury upon a child.

Sheriff Lott stated that a two year old female child was taken to the Hopkins Fire Department, around 11:30 AM today, by a family member. Emergency Services then transported the child to Palmetto Health Richland in critical condition. The investigation has determined that Danny Nichols, who is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was baby sitting for the child while her mother was at work. While in Nichols’ care the child received extensive injuries to her head and body. Investigators have determined that Nichols beat the child and violently shook the child causing extreme injury, internally and externally.

Nichols has been booked in to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center where he awaits a bond hearing.