A South Carolina woman, Justine Marie May, 31, is facing two counts of homicide by child abuse after her two young daughters were discovered deceased at their family residence in Ladson, located just outside Charleston. Court documents detail the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths, which occurred on September 29.
Deputies from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office responded to the home for a welfare check. According to affidavits, they found May outside the residence, visibly distressed and "speaking incoherently." Upon entering the home to check on the children, deputies located both girls, who were approximately 1½ and 2½ years old, deceased.
During questioning by detectives, May reportedly stated that the preceding two weeks felt like a "blur." She told investigators she could not recall the last time she had provided her children with food or drink. The documents indicate May believed her daughters died because they had not eaten and admitted that failing to feed them constituted neglect. She also informed investigators that she had been the sole adult present at the home and the exclusive caregiver for the children in the weeks leading up to their deaths.
Charges Filed Amidst Allegations of Extreme Indifference
Investigators have accused May of demonstrating "extreme indifference for human life." They allege that her failure to provide basic sustenance to her children was a "main contributor to their death." Consequently, separate arrest warrants were issued for each child, charging May with homicide by child abuse under South Carolina state law.
Prior Contacts and Ongoing Investigations
Records from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office show that deputies had interacted with May and her children on multiple occasions prior to the deaths. These contacts included two separate visits in August and three visits in September. Published reports indicate that during these encounters, no obvious signs of concern were noted by the deputies. The last recorded visit while the children were alive was on September 20.
The incident has prompted an internal review by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards, examining the agency's response. Additionally, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Special Victims Unit and the Department of Child Fatalities are actively assisting in the ongoing investigation, according to published reports.