The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera video from welfare checks at a Ladson home in the weeks before two young sisters were found dead there.
Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months, were found dead inside their mother’s home on Pinewood Drive on Sept. 29. Their mother, 31-year-old Justine May, is charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.
What the video shows
The sheriff’s office released footage from two of the visits on Friday, Oct. 9: one on Aug. 30, when deputies went to the home with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and one on Sept. 12, when they went with Mobile Crisis mental health workers.
Sheriff Carl Ritchie said that during several visits in late August and early September, deputies saw May and both girls, and everyone appeared to be fine. He said body camera video also shows May getting more and more frustrated with the repeated checks.
The last visit
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went to the home nine times between Aug. 25 and Sept. 20.
The last in-person visit was on Sept. 20. A deputy spoke with May, but she did not let them inside, saying the children were asleep. Mobile Crisis workers were also there, and May turned down their help and said she had no thoughts of hurting herself.
That was the last time deputies made in-person contact before Sept. 29, when a neighbor called 911 asking someone to check on the girls because no one had seen them.
What the coroner found
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office said both girls died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. The coroner believes they died three to five days before they were found, but said that timeline could change as more test results come in.
Sheriff defends response
Ritchie said the welfare check calls came from family and friends who were worried about May’s mental health. He said deputies cannot go inside a home during a welfare check unless they are invited, and cannot remove children if there are no signs of danger at the time.
When asked whether anyone had warned that May might seriously hurt her children, Ritchie said he would wait until the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) finishes interviewing family members before answering.
The sheriff’s office says it is still reviewing 911 calls, reports and other video, and will release more records once they are ready.
The girls’ father has publicly criticized how the sheriff’s office handled the case and has asked SLED to review it.
Next court date
May remains in jail after waiving a bond hearing. Her first court appearance is set for Nov. 20. If convicted, homicide by child abuse carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
May is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.
Sources: Charleston County Sheriff’s Office; Charleston County Coroner’s Office; ABC News 4 (body camera release, coroner and sheriff statements)