One year and one day after being arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman and her grandson, a Loris man appeared in a Georgetown County courtroom for a bond hearing Thursday.

Franklin Crawford, 25, is one of three men charged with the Jan. 12, 2011 kidnapping of Cindy Mixson and her 4 year old grandson from the parking lot of First Baptist Church on Highmarket Street.

He was arrested on Jan. 25, 2011.

Crawford and his two co-defendants — 21-year-old Joshua Witherspoon and 22-year-old Elias Collins — are also charged with armed robberies in Horry County.

While bond for the three has been set in Horry County, no bond hearings had been held in Georgetown County.

On the day of the crime, Mixson told police the two abductors made her get in the passenger’s seat and then drive to King Street, near Wachovia Bank.

The second suspect was in the back seat with her grandson.

They then took her pocketbook — containing less than $11 — and jumped in a getaway car.

All three suspects are charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and car-jacking for this crime.

Crawford and Collins are additionally charged with possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

Mixson addressed the court Thursday asking the judge to make sure Crawford stays in jail.

She said since the incident, the lives of her and her grandson “have greatly changed.”

She said she looks around all the time when she is out of her house and her grandson has nightmares.

It was noted during the hearing Crawford is a father.

“I can’t imagine someone with kids of their own doing something like this,” Mixson said. “I can’t bear the thought of him being out.”

Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller said Crawford has a right to a bond. Calling it a “serious crime” he then set bond at $250,000.

Collins and Witherspoon are also charged with the murder of a North Carolina convenience store owner. Crawford is not accused of that crime.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com