2 young children found starved to death in home were dead for several days, authorities say

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) — South Carolina authorities say two children who were found inside a Ladson-area home late last month had been dead for several days before they were discovered.

Charleston County authorities identified the children as Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old. Charleston County coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal said they died of starvation and dehydration due to neglect.

Justine May, the children’s mother and described as their primary caregiver, was charged in the case with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies had responded to numerous calls at the Pinewood Drive residence before ultimately finding the two children dead during a welfare check at the home.

The previous calls to the home were said to have included welfare checks and visits coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.

Authorities said deputies made contact with May and the children in August and again several more times in September, noting they observed no signs of concern during those visits.

Last Tuesday, authorities said they were called back to the home after a 911 call came through that morning asking deputies to conduct a welfare check on the two young girls after they had not been seen, with their mother acting differently while walking around the neighborhood by herself.

“I’m just concerned because she didn’t have her kids, and nobody has seen her kids,” the caller told the Charleston County 911 dispatcher. “She was walking down the road today, and she didn’t have her babies, and that’s not like her.”

When deputies arrived at the home that afternoon, they said May exited the house and was crying and speaking incoherently. Upon entering, that’s when they saw the two children dead.

May was taken into custody.

According to affidavits, after being read her Miranda rights, May told detectives that she had spent the previous two weeks in a “blur,” saying she could not remember the last time she fed Emory and Harlow or gave them anything to drink.

Authorities said May told detectives that she believed her children were dead because they did not eat. She reportedly told deputies that she knew that not feeding her children was neglectful and confirmed she had been the only one present at home and was the sole caregiver for the girls over the last few weeks.

May remained jailed at the Al Cannon Detention Center.