Mother charged after daughters found dead following welfare checks

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 12:02 · Archive

Police bodycam footage shows welfare checks on a South Carolina mother weeks before her two young daughters were found dead.

Justine May, 31, has been charged over the deaths of her two young daughters, Harlow Deacon, 15 months, and Emory Deacon, 2. The children were found dead on 29 September at their home in Ladson, South Carolina. The Charleston County Coroner's Office determined their cause of death to be 'starvation and dehydration due to neglect' and classified the deaths as homicides.

Bodycam footage released by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office this week shows two welfare checks conducted at May's home, two weeks apart. During the first check on 30 August, a caseworker and deputy told May they were visiting because her mental health had reportedly declined since she separated from the children's father and no one had seen the children in over a week. The children's father, Zack Deacon, had also attempted to visit his daughters without success.

May refused to allow the officers to enter her home, telling them 'I'd really rather not have you come in at all'. She picked up toddler Harlow shortly after answering the door. Sheriff's office records indicate that 13 welfare checks were conducted at the address, with authorities reporting they 'observed no signs of concern'. Relatives had raised safety concerns about the children in messages with May and her mother before the children were found.

How it is being reported

• Justine May: Mother charged with murdering her young children seen on police bodycam during welfare checkNew bodycam footage has emerged of police conducting two tense welfare checks on a mother just weeks before she was arrested over the deaths of her two young children.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 11:46
• Justine May: Mother charged with murdering her young children seen on police bodycam during welfare checkNew bodycam footage has emerged of police conducting two tense welfare checks on a mother just weeks before she was arrested over the deaths of her two young children.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 11:46

In this story: Justine May · Harlow Deacon · Emory Deacon · Zack Deacon · Charleston County Sheriff's Office · South Carolina · Ladson

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem