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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (BFMG) — Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie is facing mounting questions about his department’s handling of repeated welfare checks at a Ladson home where two young sisters were found dead from starvation and dehydration, despite numerous calls to authorities expressing concerns about their safety.
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office scheduled a news conference for Friday, October 9, at 10 a.m., as the investigation continues into the deaths of 2-year-old Emory Deacon and her 15-month-old sister, Harlow Deacon.
The children’s mother, 31-year-old Justine May, has been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.
The sisters were discovered dead inside their Pinewood Drive residence on September 29, 2026, during a welfare check.
Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal determined that the children died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. Their deaths were ruled homicides, with investigators estimating the girls had been dead for three to five days before their bodies were discovered.
Repeated Welfare Checks Before Children’s Deaths
According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received numerous calls concerning the household in the weeks leading up to the children’s deaths.
Authorities previously acknowledged receiving 21 calls related to the residence and conducting 13 responses between August 10 and September 29.
In a statement released Thursday, October 8, Ritchie said deputies made nine separate visits between August 25 and September 20 involving contact with May and/or her children.
The sheriff said deputies did not observe conditions suggesting the girls were in immediate danger.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services and Mobile Crisis personnel also participated in assessments at the residence, according to authorities.
However, on September 22, a sheriff’s office supervisor decided to discontinue additional welfare checks.
Ritchie said the decision was based on previous visits, involvement by other agencies and the absence of new information indicating an immediate threat to May or her children.
The decision has become a central issue in the growing controversy surrounding the case.
Children’s Father Says Warning Signs Were Ignored
The children’s father, Zachary Deacon, had repeatedly expressed concerns about his daughters’ safety and his inability to see them.
According to incident reports, both Deacon and May’s mother contacted authorities requesting welfare checks.
Deacon was also arrested on a harassment charge before the girls’ deaths, a development his attorney now wants independently investigated.
The family’s attorney, Gedney Howe, argues that the sheriff’s office should not be solely responsible for reviewing its own actions.
Howe has formally requested that Ritchie invite the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to investigate the sheriff’s office’s handling of the case.
The requested investigation would examine how deputies responded to the family’s concerns, why welfare checks were discontinued, whether emergency protective custody should have been considered and whether all relevant records and video evidence have been preserved.
SLED’s Child Fatalities Unit is already assisting with the criminal investigation involving May. However, the family wants a separate investigation into the sheriff’s office itself.
Sheriff Defends Department’s Response
In his Thursday statement, Ritchie emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability.
He said the community deserves accurate information supported by documented evidence rather than speculation.
The sheriff also referenced departmental policies governing patrol operations and interactions with people experiencing mental health crises.
One policy allows deputies to consider emergency protective custody when they believe an individual may be experiencing a serious mental health crisis, including circumstances involving information provided by family members.
Questions remain about whether deputies adequately considered those options during their encounters with May.
The sheriff’s office has maintained that deputies followed established procedures.
Meanwhile, the agency’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal review of its handling of the case.
Family Challenges Sheriff’s Claims
In a statement released Thursday, the Deacon family said it was deeply disappointed by the sheriff’s public comments.
Howe questioned how the department could publicly defend its handling of the case while telling the family that relevant investigative records were still being assembled.
The family’s attorney has also raised concerns about the timeline of calls and responses, arguing that additional records are needed to establish exactly what deputies knew and when they knew it.
The family has called for an independent examination of the department’s decisions rather than relying exclusively on an internal investigation.
Howe indicated that if Ritchie does not request an independent SLED review, the family intends to seek intervention from the Ninth Circuit Solicitor, the South Carolina Attorney General or the governor.
Criminal Investigation Continues
May remains charged in connection with the deaths of both daughters.
According to arrest documents previously reported by local media, May allegedly told investigators she could not remember when she last fed the children.
She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
As the criminal case moves forward, a separate question continues to dominate public discussion: Whether additional intervention by law enforcement or child welfare authorities could have prevented the deaths of Emory and Harlow Deacon.
The sheriff’s office scheduled Friday’s news conference to address the Ladson investigation, although details of any new statements made during that briefing have not yet been independently verified.
For the children’s family, the demand remains an independent review of the decisions made before the girls were found dead.
