SC mother charged with homicide after two toddlers found dead in Ladson home

Key points

• Justine May, 31, was charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse in connection with the deaths of her two daughters, Emory (2) and Harlow (15 months), found dead on Sept. 29 in Ladson.
• May told authorities she could not remember the last time she fed her children. Before their deaths, she had posted screenshots of worried text messages from the children’s father and family members on Facebook.
• The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is publicly supporting a deputy who stated the agency would no longer conduct welfare checks at the home, opting instead to call May. The home had been visited by deputies and social services dozens of times prior to the final call.
• Rep. Nancy Mace, whose district includes Ladson, is calling for an outside investigation independent of the Sheriff’s Office and Child Protective Services. She noted the home was visited 13 times in the period leading up to the deaths.
• The Post and Courier reports that a neighbor called 911 on Sept. 29 after seeing May wandering without her children, stating she was 'not like her' and asking for someone to 'lay eyes on them.'
• The Independent reports the case as a tragic example of child neglect, while Live 5 News highlights the political push for systemic changes in how the Department of Social Services handles vulnerable children.

Background

This case follows a series of high-profile child abuse and neglect deaths in South Carolina in 2026, including the death of autistic 5-year-old Saylor Hayes in September, whose parents were charged with placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning her. The current case underscores ongoing scrutiny of local law enforcement and social services responses to repeated welfare calls.

How outlets are covering it

The Post and Courier emphasizes the systemic failure of the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting a deputy's decision to stop in-person welfare checks despite repeated calls. Live 5 News focuses on the political response, with Rep. Nancy Mace demanding an independent investigation and potential state-level changes to the Department of Social Services. The Independent provides a broader overview of the charges and May's social media activity, while WCIV (ABC News 4) focuses on the Sheriff's Office's defense of its response. The outlets differ in their emphasis: local media (Post and Courier, WCIV) focus on the agency's actions, while state-level media (Live 5 News) focus on the political and systemic implications.

Why it matters

The case highlights the critical importance of timely intervention in child abuse and neglect cases, and the potential consequences of systemic failures in law enforcement and social services. It also underscores the role of political oversight in addressing such failures and the need for independent investigations to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.

What to watch

The case will likely proceed to court, where May will face charges of homicide by child abuse. The call for an independent investigation by Rep. Nancy Mace may lead to a review of the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Social Services' handling of the case. The outcome of the investigation could result in changes to state-level policies and procedures for handling cases involving vulnerable children.