5 years later: Family pleading for answers in 4-year-old’s hit and run death

VARNVILLE, South Carolina. (WTOC) - Saturday, December 6th, marks the 5th anniversary of the death of Karie Breland, a little boy who was struck and killed in a hit and run on Palmetto Ave. in Varnville, South Carolina.

The family gathered around his memorial site, remembering their son, brother, cousin, and, most importantly, the little boy who brought so much light and joy to every room he entered.

“I’m going to be mad, but I’ll forgive you, I’ll forgive you, but just let me know who did this to my baby,” Latrell Davis, Karie’s mother, told WTOC.

Karie was riding his bike and walking his dog with his Papa, something he did every day, when tragedy struck.

“It would not hurt so bad, but you hit him, and you kept going, you killed him and his dog,” said Davis.

The suspect never turned around for Karie.

“Thank God Papa is okay, but Karie and Sugar aren’t here anymore,” Davis told WTOC.

Karie’s family said they came together Saturday night to mourn the loss of someone who was the life of the party, even at such a young age.

“Someone so small made such a huge impact on everyone,” Karie’s sister told WTOC.

Just a month ago, the solicitor’s office told the family that they didn’t have enough evidence to try the case and dismissed it without prejudice.

A woman was arrested for his death back in 2020, but those charges were dropped. You can find that article here.

“Give me my family. Give us a peace of mind. Just say something,” his mother pleaded.

Karie’s cousin said what makes this tragedy even worse is that her father blames himself for what happened.

“For me to see my dad go from like the brightest person to the dullest person in the room, like he won’t come out, he won’t talk,” said Dauntavia Chisolm.

The family pleaded with their community to come forward if they saw something, to help them get justice for Karie.

“I do hope that we do get to justice so one day he will stop blaming himself,” said Dauntavia Chisolm.

The entire family telling WTOC they won’t be mad at whoever hit Karie, they just want closure for Karie and their puppy.

You can find our previous coverage here where we also spoke with his family.

Varnville Police can be reached at (803) 943-2979.