South Carolina Mother Arrested for Starvation Deaths of Two Children; Bodycam Footage Released
Authorities conducted multiple welfare checks before the children were found deceased.
Justine May, 31, has been arrested and charged with homicide in connection with the deaths of her two young children, Harlow Deacon, 15 months, and Emory Deacon, 2. The children were discovered deceased in their Ladson, South Carolina, home on September 29. The coroner's office determined that both children died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect.
In the weeks leading up to the children's deaths, law enforcement conducted at least 13 welfare checks at the residence. Bodycam footage released by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office documents two of these checks, conducted on August 30 and September 12. During one interaction, May appeared confrontational, questioning why officers needed to speak with her. She denied hearing voices or intending to harm anyone, attributing the calls to her ex-fiancé and her mother whom she described as having mental health issues.
On August 30, officers were permitted inside the home, which appeared orderly. The children were seen interacting with their mother. A social worker informed May that the welfare check was prompted by concerns that the children had not been seen for over a week and that their father had been attempting to visit them. The social worker also noted allegations that May's mental health had declined since her separation from the children's father.
May denied these claims, stating that the children's father exhibited erratic behavior. When a caseworker observed a rash on her toddler, May attributed it to a normal diaper rash. None of the welfare checks resulted in deputies observing behavior that indicated immediate danger, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office decided to discontinue further welfare checks after September 20, citing the totality of the information available, including previous interactions and involvement with social services, and the absence of new actionable information indicating an immediate threat. This decision was made by an on-duty supervisor.
When deputies responded to May's residence on September 29, she allegedly told them she had been in a "blur" for the past two weeks and could not recall when she last fed her children. Deputies then discovered the bodies of Harlow and Emory. The Sheriff's Office is reviewing the bodycam footage to establish a timeline of the events leading to the children's deaths.
Through his legal representation, the children's father, Zack Deacon, has requested a review of the police department's conduct in handling the case. His lawyer stated, "Emory and Harlow deserve the truth. Their father deserves to see the file, not to learn about the case on the news."