Sheriff deputies in Charleston County arrested 31-year-old Justine May after emergency responders found her two young daughters dead inside a residence in Ladson, South Carolina. Officials confirmed the victims, 33-month-old Emory Deacon and 15-month-old Harlow Deacon, suffered fatal starvation and dehydration caused by extreme parental neglect. Law enforcement took May into custody at the scene, charging her with two counts of homicide by child abuse.
Deputies from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the property at 3280 Pinewood Drive alongside a caseworker from the South Carolina Department of Social Services shortly after 12:30 p.m. on September 29, 2026. First responders entered the structure following a welfare check requested by a neighbor who observed May walking outside without her children. Inside the residence, emergency personnel located the two toddlers, who were already beyond medical assistance.
Coroner findings determine severe neglect as primary cause of death
Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal conducted formal examinations of both victims and officially ruled the fatalities as homicides resulting from severe dehydration and starvation. Forensic investigators concluded that a prolonged absence of basic care led directly to the collapse of the children’s vital functions. The coroner finalized the identification of Emory and Harlow Deacon on October 1, 2026, after completing autopsy procedures.
Arrest warrants and interrogation documents indicate that May admitted to detectives that she could not recall the last time she provided meals or liquids to either daughter. The suspect told investigators that her memory of the previous two weeks remained a complete blur during which she struggled to track daily routines. Investigators noted that May served as the sole caregiver residing in the home during that period.
Official incident records document case details in Charleston County
- Primary victims: Emory Deacon, aged 33 months, and Harlow Deacon, aged 15 months
- Crime scene: Residential property at 3280 Pinewood Drive in Ladson, South Carolina
- Arrested individual: Justine May, 31, identified in court records as primary caretaker
- Criminal counts: Two felony charges of homicide by child abuse
Law enforcement logs show multiple calls to Pinewood Drive property
Emergency dispatch logs indicate that sheriff deputies traveled to the Pinewood Drive home 13 times between August 10 and September 29, 2026. The recorded dispatches involved verbal disputes, neighborhood welfare inquiries, and visits alongside mental health specialists. Responders included personnel from the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team on separate interventions.
Deputies had direct contact with May and both children during five specific dates, including August 25, August 26, September 8, September 11, and September 12, 2026. Incident reports filed after those encounters stated that responding officers observed no visible indications of immediate danger to the toddlers at those times. The agency acknowledged in an official release that handling the outcome of the final call represented the most difficult situation any law enforcement organization could encounter.
Court records show that the girls’ father, Zack Deacon, was arrested on September 11, 2026, for second-degree harassment following disputes regarding the custody and safety of his daughters. A protective order subsequently barred him from returning to the Pinewood Drive residence. Attorney Gedney M. Howe IV, who represents the father, stated publicly that the loss of the two girls was entirely preventable.
Howe emphasized that family members, acquaintances, and neighbors repeatedly contacted public agencies to urge protective intervention for the minors before the deaths occurred. The attorney maintained that Zack Deacon had sought emergency assistance regarding the conditions inside the home prior to his own arrest. Legal representatives continue to review agency responses leading up to the end of September.
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Judicial proceedings advance with preliminary court schedule
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards initiated an administrative review to examine how deputies handled each call to the home. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is assisting the local investigation through its Special Victims Unit and Child Fatalities division. State agents are examining dispatch recordings, prior welfare reports, and case notes compiled by social service caseworkers.
- September 30, 2026: Justine May waives preliminary bond hearing before magistrate
- October 1, 2026: Charleston County Coroner releases autopsy findings and victim identities
- November 20, 2026: Initial appearance hearing scheduled in Charleston County general sessions court
Justine May remains detained without bail at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center. Judicial officials scheduled her initial court appearance for November 20, 2026, where prosecutors will formally present the state’s case.