Wildlife Removal in Ladson, SC

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) — Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians along a dangerous stretch of Ladson Road could soon see some major safety upgrades.

According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation, over three years, 1,172 total crashes (1,167 vehicular, four pedestrian, and one bicycle) have been reported, making approximately 150 crashes per mile every year.

“It was an incredibly uncomfortable, and it felt risky at times being a pedestrian in that space,” Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves, said.

Of those, 247 resulted in injuries from car crashes and four pedestrians.

“That’s a very important cause for the South Carolina Department of Transportation to just get those numbers down and get to work there,” Tyler Fedor, media relations specialist for SCDOT, said.

Along this 2.6-mile stretch, SCDOT studied the road firsthand through a Road Safety Assessment, not just through the data and the numbers, but what it feels like to use it every day. The state says the RSA limits begin at Wallace Ackerman Drive/Limehouse Drive and end where the Charleston County Highway 78 improvements project starts near College Park Road. The corridor was selected for assessment through the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

“We’re looking at how drivers are driving. We’re looking at where people are bicycling, walking, using assistive devices, all of the different things. And just sort of trying to then come together and come up with what we think is working well and then what we think needs improvement and how,” Zimmerman said.

SCDOT is now proposing a list of fixes:

But none of it works, they say, without the community’s input.

“The locals, the people that use this road, come and tell us, you know, what do they see, what do they want, how do they feel about the potential proposed changes, and being able to collect that feedback, consider all that feedback, and potentially act on that feedback, is absolutely important because that keeps South Carolinians safe,” Fedor said.

The drop-in public meeting will be held Sept. 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Holiness Church located at 3836 Ladson Road, Ladson, SC 29456.

The comment period ends on Oct. 1.

The project schedule:

To provide feedback and learn more about the project, click here.

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) — The Charleston County Coroner’s Office has identified the two children found dead in a Ladson home on Tuesday.

Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal says that Emory Deacon, a 2-year-old female, and Harlow Deacon, a 15-month-old female, were found dead during a welfare check in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive.

The cause of death for both children is starvation and dehydration due to neglect. The manner of death for both children is homicide.

“We believe these deaths could and should have been prevented,” said Gedney M. Howe IV, attorney for the girls’ father, Zack Deacon, in a statement to Live 5 News. “Neighbors, friends, and family all called trying to get help for these girls, and no one listened. Zack was sounding the alarm and was arrested for it. Seeking justice for Emory and Harlow is the most important thing to this family.”

Justine May, 31, who deputies described as the children’s “primary caregiver,” has since been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse in the case, which the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office called “the most difficult call any department could face.”

According to a statement from the department, deputies have responded to numerous calls at the Pinewood Drive home since August.

The calls included welfare checks and visits coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.

Authorities said deputies made contact with May and the children twice in August and three times in September, noting they observed no signs of concern during those visits.

Between Aug. 10 and Tuesday, calls regarding the residence resulted in CCSO responding 13 times.

Those responses included accompanying DSS on one visit and the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit on another.

The sheriff’s office said its most recent visit before the children were found occurred on Sept. 20, when deputies made contact only with May.

From dispatch logs obtained by Live 5 News, there was a verbal domestic call on Aug. 10, a “keep the peace” call on Aug. 11, a welfare check on Aug. 25, a follow-up on Aug. 27, and then another verbal domestic call 5 hours later that day.

There was also an “urgent” welfare check on Sept. 9, a welfare check on Sept. 22, and a follow-up Tuesday.

Just after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies and a DSS caseworker returned to the home for another welfare check.

When they arrived, May exited the house. Upon entering to check on the two children, officials found them dead inside.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal review of the response.

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit Department of Child Fatalities is assisting in the investigation.

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.”

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) — The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has released a statement regarding the deaths of two children that resulted in the arrest of their mother.

Below is the full statement from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office:

“There have been questions regarding radio transmissions involving Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responding to calls at a residence on Pinewood Drive.

Sheriff Carl Ritchie and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office stand firmly behind our deputy. The audio record confirms that the deputy followed supervisory direction, acted within the law, and adhered to established policies and professional standards at all times.

Since August 10, 2026, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office received 21 calls concerning the Pinewood Drive residence, resulting in deputies responding to the location on 13 separate occasions. Those responses included welfare checks, follow-up calls, supervisory review, coordination with other agencies, and continued assessment of the circumstances presented to responding personnel.

Documented responses and contacts occurred throughout August and September, including August 10, August 11, August 25, August 26, August 27, September 8, September 9, September 11, September 12, September 20, September 22, and ultimately September 29. Some dates involved more than one call, response, or follow-up.

During several of these contacts, deputies personally interacted with the mother and children, and other agencies participated in the assessment process.

During the prior responses, deputies and participating agency personnel did not report observations indicating an immediate concern for the children’s welfare.

Our personnel responded to repeated calls for service, conducted appropriate assessments and welfare checks, consulted supervisory personnel, and coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and other agencies. Family members were treated professionally and respectfully and were provided information regarding the appropriate legal avenues available to them.

On September 29, following additional concerns reported to CCSO, the deputy referenced in the radio transmissions contacted DSS and requested that DSS accompany deputies to the residence. Deputies also canvassed the surrounding area before returning to the home with DSS personnel.

After contact was made with the mother, DSS requested to see the children and was permitted inside the residence. It was during that response that the children were discovered.

The record reflects an extensive history of response to this residence, not an absence of response. Across multiple calls and visits, CCSO personnel continued to respond, assess the circumstances presented to them, consult supervisors, communicate with concerned family members, and coordinate with partner agencies as additional information became available.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the profound gravity of this tragedy and extends its deepest condolences to everyone affected. We remain steadfast in our commitment to professional, lawful, and accountable service to this community."

Justine Marie May, 31, of Ladson, is facing two charges of homicide by child abuse.

Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal said that Emory Deacon, a 2-year-old girl, and Harlow Deacon, a 15-month-old girl, were found dead Tuesday during a welfare check in the 3200 block of Pinewood Drive.

The cause of death for both children is starvation and dehydration due to neglect. The manner of death for both children is homicide.

Affidavits have now revealed the events that led up to the discovery of Emory and Harlow’s bodies.

The documents state that deputies responded to the home for a welfare check; at the scene, May reportedly came out of the home, crying and speaking “incoherently” to deputies.

Knowing from previous welfare checks that May was usually caring for her two young daughters, deputies entered the home in order to ensure their safety.

However, once they went inside, Emory and Harlow were both found “obviously” dead, and no lifesaving measures could be taken.

The affidavits state that, after being read her Miranda rights, May told detectives that she had spent the previous two weeks in a “blur,” saying she could not remember the last time she fed Emory and Harlow or gave them anything to drink.

She told detectives at the time, documents state, that she believed her children were dead because they did not eat. May reportedly told deputies that she knew that not feeding her children was neglectful and confirmed she had been the only one present at home and was the sole caregiver for the girls over the last few weeks.

“The defendant unequivocally demonstrated an extreme indifference for human life in that she failed to provide both of her own children, according to her, with the basic sustenance to maintain life thus being a main contributor to their death,” the affidavit states.

The 911 Call

A woman called 911 Tuesday morning asking deputies to conduct a welfare check on two young girls at a Ladson home, telling a dispatcher the children had not been seen, and their mother was acting differently.

Hours later, deputies went inside the home and found the two children dead.

The call came in after the woman said she saw May walking several houses away from her home on Pinewood Drive without her two children.

“I’m just concerned because she didn’t have her kids, and nobody has seen her kids,” the caller told the Charleston County 911 dispatcher.

The caller said May would normally have her children with her wherever she went.

“She was walking down the road today, and she didn’t have her babies, and that’s not like her,” the caller said.

The woman asked that someone check on the children.

“I would like for someone to at least lay eyes on them just because last I’ve heard that they’re always napping,” she told the dispatcher.

The caller also expressed concern about May’s behavior and asked that her identity not be disclosed because she did not want to make May angry.

“I don’t know what her state is,” the caller said.

May remains booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center, where she is being held without bond. Since being brought into custody, an initial and second appearance have both been scheduled, according to court records, on Nov. 20 of this year and March 19 of next year, respectively.

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) — Two children who were found dead in a home earlier this week in South Carolina have been identified, and authorities said this wasn’t the first time they had been called to the residence.

Emory Deacon, 2, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old, died of starvation and dehydration due to neglect, Charleston County coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal said.

Justine May, the children’s mother and described as their primary caregiver, has been charged in the case with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies had responded to numerous calls at the Pinewood Drive residence before ultimately finding the two children dead during a welfare check at the home.

The previous calls to the home were said to have included welfare checks and visits coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit.

Authorities said deputies made contact with May and the children in August and again several more times in September, noting they observed no signs of concern during those visits.

On Tuesday, authorities said they were called back to the home after a 911 call came through that morning asking deputies to conduct a welfare check on the two young girls after they had not been seen, with their mother acting differently while walking around the neighborhood by herself.

“I’m just concerned because she didn’t have her kids, and nobody has seen her kids,” the caller told the Charleston County 911 dispatcher. “She was walking down the road today, and she didn’t have her babies, and that’s not like her.”

When deputies arrived at the home that afternoon, they said May exited the house and was crying and speaking incoherently. Upon entering, that’s when they saw the two children dead.

May was taken into custody.

According to affidavits, after being read her Miranda rights, May told detectives that she had spent the previous two weeks in a “blur,” saying she could not remember the last time she fed Emory and Harlow or gave them anything to drink.

Authorities said May told detectives that she believed her children were dead because they did not eat. She reportedly told deputies that she knew that not feeding her children was neglectful and confirmed she had been the only one present at home and was the sole caregiver for the girls over the last few weeks.

May remains jailed at the Al Cannon Detention Center.