Ladson toddlers die of starvation after months of ignored welfare checks

Key points

• Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old, died of starvation and dehydration due to neglect, according to Charleston County coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal.
• Justine May, the children’s mother and primary caregiver, has been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse and remains jailed at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to numerous calls at the Pinewood Drive residence, including welfare checks and visits coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.
• Deputies made contact with May and the children in August and several more times in September, noting they observed no signs of concern during those visits.
• On Sept. 29, a 911 caller reported that May was walking down the road without her babies, stating that this was not like her, prompting a welfare check that led to the discovery of the children’s bodies.
• Upon entering the home, deputies found May crying and speaking incoherently, and the two children dead.

Background

This case follows a pattern of tragic child neglect incidents in the United States, where repeated welfare checks and mental health interventions fail to prevent fatal outcomes. The archive notes a similar incident in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, where three people were found dead during a welfare check, and a case in West Hollywood involving repeated 911 calls over disturbances at Hayden Panettiere’s home, which led to her death and an ongoing investigation. These cases highlight the challenges faced by authorities in responding to repeated welfare checks and mental health crises, and the potential consequences of inadequate follow-up.

Why it matters

The deaths of Emory and Harlow Deacon highlight the critical importance of timely and effective responses to welfare checks and mental health crises. The case underscores the need for improved coordination between law enforcement, social services, and mental health units to prevent similar tragedies. It also raises questions about the adequacy of current protocols for assessing the well-being of children in homes with repeated welfare checks, and the potential for systemic failures to lead to fatal outcomes.

What to watch

Justine May will face trial for two counts of homicide by child abuse. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office may face scrutiny over its response to the repeated welfare checks and mental health crisis interventions. Authorities may review and update protocols for assessing the well-being of children in homes with repeated welfare checks to prevent similar tragedies in the future.