Ladson toddlers die of starvation after months of ignored welfare checks

Key points

• Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months, were pronounced dead on Sept. 29 at a Pinewood Drive residence in Ladson.
• Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal determined the cause of death was starvation and dehydration due to neglect, classifying the manner of death as homicide.
• Justine May, 31, the children’s primary caregiver, was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.
• May told detectives she was in a 'blur' for two weeks and could not remember the last time she fed or hydrated her children.
• The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home 13 times between Aug. 10 and Sept. 29, including visits with social services and mental health units.
• A 911 call on Sept. 29 from a neighbor who noticed May walking alone without her children triggered the final welfare check that revealed the deaths.

Background

This case follows a pattern of fatal child neglect incidents reported in the archive, such as the Inver Grove Heights deaths in August 2026, where multiple individuals were found dead during a welfare check. While those cases involved different circumstances, both highlight the critical role of welfare checks and the tragic outcomes when early intervention fails. The current case in South Carolina is distinct in its prolonged timeline of repeated police and social service visits that did not result in the removal of the children before their deaths.

How outlets are covering it

Live 5 News emphasized the systemic failure, quoting the father’s attorney who stated that neighbors and family 'sounded the alarm' but were ignored, and that Zack Deacon was arrested for trying to help. The Post and Courier focused on the specific 911 call audio, highlighting the neighbor’s plea to 'lay eyes on them' and noting that May claimed the children were 'napping' when asked. WCSC/Gray News detailed the affidavit statements where May admitted to not remembering feeding the children and confirmed she was the sole caregiver. All outlets agreed on the 13 prior police responses but differed in emphasis: Live 5 stressed the father’s perspective and the sheriff’s internal review, while the Post and Courier focused on the immediate trigger of the final call.

Why it matters

This case exposes potential gaps in child welfare protocols when multiple agencies, including police, social services, and mental health units, visit a home repeatedly without escalating to removal. It raises critical questions about how 'no signs of concern' are assessed during welfare checks and the legal and procedural safeguards needed to prevent preventable deaths in high-risk households.

What to watch

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal review of the 13 prior responses. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit is assisting the investigation. Justine May remains jailed at the Al Cannon Detention Center and will face trial on the homicide charges. The father, Zack Deacon, is pursuing justice for his daughters, and the family is likely to seek civil accountability for the delayed intervention.