Ladson homeowner charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse after welfare check

Key points

• Justine Marie May, 31, is the homeowner of the property in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive, Ladson, where two people were found dead.
• May faces two counts of homicide by child abuse, a charge that implies the victims were minors, though their ages and identities remain unconfirmed by the coroner.
• Deputies arrived at the scene just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during a welfare check.
• May’s bond was waived at a hearing on Wednesday, September 30, and she is currently held at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
• Her initial court appearance is scheduled for November 20, 2026.
• The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Department of Child Fatalities.

Background

This incident occurs in South Carolina, a state that has seen multiple high-profile child fatality cases in 2026. In early September, the state was involved in the case of Saylor Hayes, a 5-year-old autistic girl found dead in a waterway near Pawleys Island. Her parents, John and Geordyn Hayes, were charged with placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child. The current case in Ladson adds to a pattern of severe child-endangerment and homicide charges in the region this year.

How outlets are covering it

All four sources (Live5, KOMO, WCIV, and WYFF) report the core facts: the location, the suspect's name, the charges, and the bond waiver. However, there is a slight discrepancy in the specific legal terminology used in headlines and descriptions. Live5, KOMO, and WCIV explicitly cite 'homicide by child abuse' as the charge. WYFF, however, refers to the charge as 'homicide by child neglect' in its headline and body text, though it also notes the bodies were found during a welfare check. All sources agree that the Charleston County Coroner has not yet released the victims' identities or causes of death, and that the charges themselves suggest the victims were children.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of child welfare and safety in South Carolina. The specific charge of 'homicide by child abuse' indicates a severe legal response to the deaths of minors in a domestic setting. The involvement of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Department of Child Fatalities suggests a high-level state investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

What to watch

Justine Marie May will appear in court on November 20, 2026, for her initial hearing. The Charleston County Coroner’s Office is expected to release the identities and causes of death of the two victims in the coming days. The joint investigation by local and state authorities will continue to determine the specific circumstances of the deaths.