South Carolina Mom Accused of Homicide by Child Abuse After Daughters Found Dead
Investigators allege Justine Marie May could not recall when she last fed or gave water to her children before they were discovered deceased.
A South Carolina mother, Justine Marie May, 31, has been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse after her two young daughters were found dead in their Ladson home on September 29. Deputies from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office responded to a welfare check and found the children deceased inside the residence.
According to affidavits reviewed by Fox News Digital, May told investigators that the previous two weeks had been a "a blur" and that she could not remember the last time she had fed or given water to her daughters, who were approximately 1½ and 2½ years old at the time of their deaths. Investigators stated that May exhibited "extreme indifference for human life" by failing to provide basic sustenance, which they allege was a primary contributor to the children's deaths.
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office reported having had separate contact with May and the children twice in August and three times in September, noting no obvious signs of concern during those visits. The last reported visit prior to the children's deaths occurred on September 20.
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal review of the agency's response to the situation. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Special Victims Unit and the Department of Child Fatalities are assisting in the investigation.
May was booked into the Charleston County jail on September 29 and remained in custody. Online jail records confirm the two homicide by child abuse charges against her.