Chimney Sweep Near Me Ladson, SC

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. — The Charleston County Coroner has formally requested an independent investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) into the multi-agency response leading up to the deaths of two young girls found dead in Ladson.

Emory and Harlow Deacon were found dead inside their home in late September.

Officials determined both girls starved to death.

Their mother, Justine May, has since been arrested and charged with two counts of homicide.

On Friday, Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal announced she submitted formal verbal and written requests to SLED on Oct. 9, asking state agents to review the actions and timelines of every agency that had “significant involvement” with the family prior to the girls’ deaths.

Those agencies include the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.

“As the elected official whose sole responsibility is to speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves, I made the official request verbally and in writing to SLED on October 9, 2026,” O’Neal said. “As Coroner, I am mandated by state law to conduct thorough Child Death Reviews into the deaths of children in Charleston County. I am conducting that review on behalf of Emory and Harlow Deacon.”

Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie has faced mounting scrutiny from the public and the victims’ family regarding his agency’s handling of earlier calls and interactions.

During a recent briefing, Ritchie defended his agency’s internal review, stating their “responsibility is not simply to determine what happened on Sept. 29; it is also to understand the circumstances that preceded that day and identify any lessons that could help prevent another family from experiencing such an unimaginable tragedy.”

The girls’ father, Zack Deacon, criticized the sheriff’s office for a lack of transparency, accusing Ritchie of waging an “indirect war” against him and his family as they seek answers.

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) — In the weeks and days leading up to the discovery of Emory and Harlow Deacon inside a Ladson home, the urgency and fear in their loved ones’ voices can now be heard in 911 calls.

Since the girls were found dead on Sept. 29, over 15 emergency calls were made to their home in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive.

Officials say the girls before they were found dead from starvation and dehydration. The children’s mother, Justine May, is charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

In the weeks leading up to May’s arrest, her own mother and the toddler’s father, Zachary Deacon, can be heard requesting that officers to conduct welfare checks.

“Justine May 100% is having, whether it is _____, or an undiagnosed bipolar episode; I don’t want to further escalate,” Deacon says. “I just want to make sure my kids are okay. We need something to keep us at ease because it’s terrifying.”

“Over the last month, she (Justine) has barricaded herself and cut all communication off with both my side and her side of the family. She’s in the throes of a mental episode and she will not communicate or send pictures,” he says in one call.

“She’s having these delusions, like what if she has a delusion like one of the babies is evil or something? Like this is beyond,” her mother says in one call. “She needs to be evaluated, like this literally lines up with postpartum psychosis, and you think about, like the Clancy thing that’s going on right now.”

“This is not okay. This is beyond okay. This is scary as **** right now,” she says.

A 911 dispatcher can be heard asking May’s mother if her daughter is receiving mental health care.

“No; she needs it,” We have just seen an absolute decline and it is escalating. Escalating,” she responded.

On Sept. 22, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office to no longer conduct welfare checks, which was seven days before the girls were found dead.

Between Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, there were four 911 calls made about the home requesting a welfare check or updates on previous welfare checks.

The 911 log states, “We are not doing welfare checks anymore due to ongoing issues and harassment from the girl’s father.”

LADSON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday released incident reports related to past visits to Justine May’s residence in Ladson.

May, 31, of Ladson, was charged on Sept. 30 in the deaths of two young children and had been the subject of repeated law enforcement and agency visits before the children were found dead inside a Pinewood Drive home, according to records obtained by News 2 and information released by CCSO.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office said Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow, 15 months, died from starvation and dehydration. The girls were found inside a home on Pinewood Drive during a welfare check on Sept. 29.

August 10: Domestic Disturbance

Deputies with CCSO responded to the Pinewood Drive residence on Aug. 10 regarding a domestic disturbance, officials said.

When deputies arrived at the house, they said May was sitting inside her vehicle in the driveway. May told deputies that her now ex-fiancé, identified as Zachary Deacon, 35, of Ladson, had begun to separate over the last week.

May and Deacon were together for eight years and engaged for five, shared a residence, and had two children together, officials said.

That night, Deacon and May began arguing with each other, and as May was leaving the home, Deacon followed her to her car, May told deputies. Deacon allegedly began slapping her car and preventing her from leaving by standing behind the car, officials said.

Deputies said May was shaken up from the incident, but they could not observe any injuries to her body. May later told deputies it never got physical.

Deacon came out of the residence and began speaking to deputies while they were talking with May in the driveway, officials said. He told officials that May suffered from mental health issues and was currently having an episode, deputies said.

Deputies were unable to find any prior incidents with May involving mental health concerns. When Deacon was told this, he said to deputies that they did not believe that May needed to be treated for it, officials said.

No charges were pursued that night.

August 26: Welfare Check

At 10:36 a.m. on Aug. 26, deputies responded to the Pinewood Drive residence after Deacon requested a welfare check on May, officials said.

Deacon told deputies that it had been two weeks since he and May had separated, and that she began to behave unusually over the previous few days and was not communicating with him or other family members, officials said.

While babysitting the children, Deacon noticed writings on the wall that made him concerned about the safety and well-being of the children, he told deputies.

A deputy eventually made contact with May and was invited into the residence. Both children were in bed and sleeping, according to the deputy.

No signs of distress or any other issues involving the children or the residence were seen, officials said.

May told the deputy that she simply wanted space from Deacon and the other family members, and told them that was the reason she had not been in contact with anyone, officials said.

The deputy asked about the writing on the wall that Deacon reported, which May said was written there by Deacon himself when he was watching the kids on Aug. 23.

May said another deputy had responded to the house the day before to conduct a welfare check and determined everyone was okay, according to the incident report.

The deputy did not see any cause for concern during this welfare check, the incident report stated.

September 11: Harassment

At 3 p.m. on Sept. 11, a deputy responded to the Pinewood Drive residence regarding a reported mental health crisis in progress.

When the deputy made contact with May, she reportedly appeared frustrated by the presence of law enforcement and asked who had called them, the report stated.

Deputies made note of previous occasions they had visited the residence, including a domestic violence incident between May and Deacon, and most recently on Sept. 8 for a welfare check, the report stated.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services was present during the Sept. 8 welfare check, deputies said. Officials said allegations against May and the welfare of the children were ‘unfounded’ at that time.

On Sept. 11, it was May’s mother who had called for the welfare check, telling dispatch that May was experiencing a mental health crisis, incident reports state. May’s mother referenced Justine’s activity on social media, referring to herself as a “goddess of the night.”

Justine May told deputies that after the domestic violence incident, she again attempted to cease communication with Deacon, officials said. Despite May telling him to leave her alone, Deacon reportedly kept contacting her, and he continued alleging that May was experiencing the mental health issues which were the source of his welfare concerns.

May told deputies that Deacon had now involved her mother in the continuing allegations and attempts to intervene in her “personal life,” deputies said.

May showed deputies text messages between herself and Deacon in which he called May “delusional,” “a liar,” “in denial,” and “secluded.” Deacon told May that DSS had an open case involving her, and that her Facebook activity made her “look bad,” deputies said.

Deacon further told May that she was “spiraling,” and that she needed to “get a grip on reality,” and that he would never turn his back on her, the report stated. Additionally, May told deputies that Deacon had driven past her residence several times despite her requests to leave her alone.

Deputies said they did not observe any behavior from May that was consistent with Deacon’s accusations, and reported that the children appeared to be “healthy, appropriately cared for, and well-fed.” They reportedly observed no immediate condition requiring emergency intervention.

Because of the repeated, unwanted contact from Deacon, deputies believed there to be probable cause that Deacon committed Second Degree Harassment against May, and sought a warrant for such, the report stated.

September 12: Harassment

Deputies responded to the Pinewood Drive residence in response to Mobile Crisis, who had requested an escort to speak with May, the report stated.

At the scene, a deputy spoke with the Mobile Crisis evaluator, who said Justine’s mother had called for May and said that Deacon was in a car with May in the area. The deputy was aware that Deacon had a warrant out for his arrest, the report stated.

Mobile Crisis determined that May did not meet their criteria and left after providing May with information on their resources, officials said.

Deputies made contact with Deacon at the Fair Ground Exchange in Ladson and noted that he arrived with May’s mother, the report stated.

Deacon was subsequently detained and was taken into custody; he cooperated with deputies completely, officials said.

Nothing else was reported.

September 29: Death

During a welfare check on Sept. 29, Harlow and Emory Deacon were found dead at the residence on Pinewood Drive.

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) — Court records show the homeowner from Tuesday’s incident in Ladson has been charged in connection with the deaths of children.

Justine Marie May, 31, is charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

Deputies responded to an incident in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive in Ladson just past 1 p.m. Tuesday. Upon arrival, two individuals were found dead, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Lexi Douglas.

The scene drew a large law enforcement presence, with nearly 20 Charleston County vehicles responding. Neighbors said they could not get to or leave their homes for hours, and sheriff’s office vehicles remained on the street late into the night.

By Wednesday, the neighborhood had returned to its usual routine.

Neighbors had their doors open and birds could be heard chirping. Across from the home, a trampoline sat in a front yard. Just two doors down, students were being dropped off by their school buses.

For residents, the contrast between the quiet neighborhood and what happened there has been difficult to process. Bob Matthews, who lives across the street, said neighbors have built strong relationships over the years.

“We really love our people, our neighbors. They’re there for you when you need ‘em.”

He said that what happened yesterday stopped him in his tracks.

“I was out at my farm at the time that it happened. And I was going to work, but I couldn’t work. It just really devastated me.”

He said the neighborhood has watched generations of families grow up there.

“Our neighborhood’s been a very good neighborhood. We’ve watched the children grow up here and become grandparents, and some are even still living here.”

Matthews said the incident was especially difficult because of how familiar neighbors are with one another.

“And for this to happen, it just took the life out of me.”

Rachel Breslin, who grew up across the street, said she had never seen anything like this happen in the neighborhood.

“That just has never happened. It’s never happened here. So, that’s crazy.”

Breslin said the incident was a reminder that neighbors may not always know what is happening inside each other’s homes.

“It’s really sad. I mean, you never know what’s going on behind closed doors.”

Irene Ackerman said she was struggling to comprehend what happened.

“God, I just can’t believe it. It’s tearing me up. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Ackerman said the situation was particularly difficult because of the nature of the neighborhood she calls home.

“It’s scary. Because you wouldn’t have thought something like that would happen in this neighborhood.”

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Department of Child Fatalities and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office are both investigating the incident.

May’s bond was waived at a hearing Wednesday morning, meaning she will remain in custody. She is scheduled for an initial appearance Nov. 20. May remains booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center.

Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A 2-year-old and a 15-month-old were found dead inside a home on Pinewood Drive in Ladson on Tuesday after authorities had responded to the home 13 times since August 2026, according to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the CCSO responded to what it says is the most difficult call any department could face: “The senseless death of two innocent children.”

The Charleston County Coroner says the cause of death for both children was starvation and dehydration due to neglect and the manner of death is Homicide.

The department says that since August of 2026, CCSO has responded to multiple calls for service at the residence on Pinewood Drive, including welfare checks and coordinating with the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.

Authorities say contact was made with Justine May, the two children’s primary caregiver, and the children, Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months, on August 25, 2026, August 26, 2026, September 8, 2026, September 11, 2026, and September 12, 2026.

CCSO says during these visits, deputies and other responding agencies saw “no signs of concern.”

Since August 10, 2026, phone calls regarding the residence resulted in CCSO responding to the home thirteen times, accompanying DSS on one visit, and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit on a separate visit.

The CCSO says the most recent visit to the residence, involving contact with May only, occurred on September 20, 2026.

On September 29, 2026, just after 12:30 p.m., deputies with the CCSO, along with the family’s caseworker from DSS, responded to a request for a welfare check at the home on Pinewood Drive.

When authorities arrived, contact was made with May when she exited the home. CCSO says due to previous visits, responders were aware that May was the primary caregiver for the two children.

When authorities entered the home to check on the welfare of the two children, they discovered their bodies inside the home.

“As part of standard procedure following any critical event, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting a routine review of the incident. Additionally, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit Department of Child Fatalities, responded to assist,” CCSO said.

“The entire staff of the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office extends their heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by the deaths of the children and will continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time.”