Authorities in South Carolina are continuing a comprehensive investigation into the tragic deaths of two young sisters whose bodies were discovered inside a home in Ladson, South Carolina. The incident has sparked intense public scrutiny regarding prior child welfare interventions and agency response protocols in Charleston County.
Tragic Discovery on Pinewood Drive
On September 29, 2026, deputies from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence located in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive to conduct a welfare check. The request was initiated after concerned individuals reported not seeing the young children, while noting that their mother was acting unusually while walking alone in the neighborhood.
Upon entering the home with a caseworker from the South Carolina Department of Social Services, deputies discovered two young children dead. Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal identified the victims as 2-year-old Emory Deacon and her 15-month-old sister, Harlow Deacon. Medical findings showed both children died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. Estimates indicate they had been deceased for three to five days prior to their discovery.
Mother Charged with Homicide by Child Abuse
The children’s mother, 31-year-old Justine Marie May, was taken into custody at the scene. She has been formally charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.
Court affidavits state that May told detectives she had spent the preceding two weeks in a mental “blur.” She admitted she could not remember the last time she provided food or water to Emory and Harlow, stating she believed they had died because they failed to eat. Investigators confirmed that May identified herself as the sole caregiver present in the home during the weeks leading up to the tragedy.
Scrutiny Over Prior Welfare Checks and Agency Response
Substantial questions have emerged regarding how local authorities and state agencies handled prior reports concerning the household. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies had responded to the Pinewood Drive residence 13 times between August 10 and September 29. These responses included checks coordinated with the S.C. Department of Social Services and the S.C. Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.
Sheriff Carl Ritchie noted that deputies had made contact with May and the children multiple times in August and September without observing immediate indicators of physical distress or danger. However, records show that an on-duty supervisor elected to discontinue additional welfare checks on September 22, citing prior evaluations and a lack of actionable threats.
Legal representation for the children’s father, Zachary “Zack” Deacon, has called for an independent investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to examine the handling of the case. SLED’s Special Victims Unit Department of Child Fatalities is assisting with the ongoing criminal investigation, while the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards conducts an internal review of its prior responses.
