Former babysitter returns to Spartanburg County jail after failed drug test

Katie Wheeler Harris is back in Spartanburg County custody after failing a drug test required by her home detention contract. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Harris tested positive for a banned substance, prompting her immediate return to jail.

Harris will appear before a judge to determine how she will serve the remainder of her sentence. The detention order followed the positive result from the mandatory screening.

The case dates to 2016, when Harris pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 3-month-old Everly Dickard. At the time, Harris was babysitting the infant. Deputies reported that the child suffered non-accidental head trauma while in Harris’ care.

Everly Dickard died 10 days after the incident. Harris initially told investigators that the baby fell from a baby swing and misstated the cause of the injury. Before her guilty plea, her attorney stated that Harris maintained she was not guilty as charged.

Prosecutors initially charged Harris with felony child abuse. That charge was later upgraded to homicide by child abuse. Harris eventually accepted a plea deal for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

The court sentenced Harris to 30 years in prison. The judge suspended the sentence to 10 years in prison, followed by home detention and probation. She completed the prison portion of that term before returning to custody in November 2026.