AIKEN COUNTY, SC. (THECOUNT) — Raquel Stevens, 35, who made headlines back in 2018 when she forgot her toddler in her vehicle and left the child there for nearly 10 hours while she worked as a North Augusta Middle School math teacher, is among four people arrested in Aiken County in the brutal beating of a 17-year-old student who was found lying naked on the side of the road.
The teen victim was found early January 2023 at Blackstone Camp Road and Atomic Road in Beech Island, South Carolina, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. He was “completely unclothed and the victim appeared to have been brutally beaten,” a deputy wrote in a report.
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A deputy tried to speak with the victim, but he was hard to understand because his face was so swollen.
Deputies later learned the teen had been lying on the side of the road “all night.”
In 2018, Aiken County School District officials said they considered revoking Stevens’ teaching certificate over leaving the child in the car, but charges were eventually dropped.
In January 2023, Stevens was arrested on charges of possession of anabolic steroids 100 doses or more, possession of fentanyl, violation of drug distribution law possession with the intent to distribute of controlled substance near a school and unlawful neglect of a child.
The district confirms Stevens is still a teacher in the district and has been placed under administrative leave following this most recent arrest.
In all, four arrests were made after investigators executed search warrants Wednesday at sites in North Augusta and Beech Island.
As the investigation progressed, investigators were able to identify Patrick Omar Stevens, 36, of North Augusta, and Derrick Lydale Nixon, 32, of Beech Island, as suspects involved in the assault, according to deputies.
Also arrested was Rickey Drayton, 62, on two counts of possession of cocaine first offense, operating a stash house and possession with intent to distribute marijuana first offense.
During the search of both locations, investigators seized a couple of pounds of marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, anabolic steroids, fentanyl and numerous firearms reports atlantanewsfirst.
While executing the search warrants simultaneously, investigators seized over 2 pounds of marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, anabolic steroids and fentanyl, according to authorities.
The North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Aiken Department of Public Safety and ATF Rage Unit assisted with the investigation.
Patrick Stevens was arrested on charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, kidnapping, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, violation of drug distribution law, four counts of possession of a controlled substance (dextroamphetamine, concerta and vyvanse), possession of anabolic steroids 100 doses or more, possession of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute near a school and unlawful neglect of a child.
Nixon was arrested on a charge of and presenting a firearm.
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Geo quick facts: Aiken County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 160,099. Its county seat and largest city is Aiken. Aiken County is a part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area – Wikipedia.