Background

Property

Family & Social Media

Investigation

Court

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Records

BACKGROUND
Justine Marie May
Personal history, education and employment

PROPERTY
3280 Pinewood Drive
Ownership and property records

FAMILY TIMELINE
Family & Social Media
Breakup, public posts and family concerns

ACTIVE INVESTIGATION
Deaths of May’s Daughters
Welfare checks, discovery and allegations

COURT CASE
Criminal Proceedings
Charges, bond and court dates

CASE MEDIA
Gallery
Photographs, screenshots and videos

CASE DOCUMENTS
Records
Court, property and case records

November 24, 1994

• Justine Marie May was born on November 24, 1994, in Madison, Connecticut. Source

2012

• Graduated from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Connecticut, Class of 2012. Source

May 14, 2019

• Coastal Academy Mount Pleasant recognized May as its Teacher of the Month for May 2019. The school stated that she worked in classroom 2B, where she taught and cared for 2-year-old children. Coastal Academy praised May for engaging the children in creative learning through small groups and thanked her for her dedication and support of the academy and her class. Source

2020

• May announced on Facebook that she had started her own photography business, Justine May Photography. Source

July 22, 2020

• May had left her teaching position and began working at East Cooper Hospital.
• In a Facebook exchange, the mother of one of May’s former students told May she had heard that she had left. May responded that she had “started working at the hospital” and later identified her new workplace as “East Cooper.” May also said she had recently encountered one of her former students, Bobby, who ran up to her and hugged her, adding that she would “miss all my kiddos.” Source

April 23, 2021

• Keith Alan May executed a Durable Power of Attorney in Charleston County, South Carolina, naming his daughter Justine M. May as his agent. The document named his son, Christian J. May, as successor agent if Justine died, became incapacitated, resigned, or otherwise ceased acting. Source
• The power of attorney granted May broad authority concerning real property, personal property, financial accounts, businesses, insurance, estates and trusts, litigation, family maintenance, government benefits, retirement plans, taxes, fiduciary matters, safe-deposit boxes, digital accounts, digital assets, and electronic devices. Source
• Keith Alan May signed the instrument on April 23, 2021. Charleston County recorded the 10-page document that day at 3:45:20 p.m., Book 0984, Page 338. Source

June 8, 2025

• May’s social-media information indicates that she gave birth to her youngest child on June 8, 2025. Later criminal-case reporting attributed different ages for the two deceased children to May, creating a discrepancy in the available public information. Source

June 15, 2021

• Property records associated with 3280 Pinewood Drive, Ladson, South Carolina 29456, list a deed recording date of June 15, 2021, with Justine M. May identified as the owner and Donald A. English as the seller. The property is in the Ridgewood subdivision and is identified as parcel 388-10-00-029. Source

July 2, 2021

• Property records list a July 2, 2021 sale date for 3280 Pinewood Drive at $199,000. Records associated with the transaction list a $195,395 FHA mortgage. The property is a three-bedroom, 1,425-square-foot residence built in 1961. Source

By 2026

• May’s Facebook profile listed her as living in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, while property records identified her as the owner of the Ladson residence where her daughters were later found deceased. Source

July 24, 2026

• May and Zack continued communicating by phone. Her call history shows an outgoing call to Zack, two outgoing calls to Zack’s work phone, and another incoming call from his work phone. Source⁠
• C.J.’s boat was removed on July 24. The boat became significant within the family because May described a vision or dream involving her father, C.J., Zack, a gun, a boat, and a pact. May’s mother associated the boat’s removal with the period when she believed May’s behavior began changing. Source⁠

July 26, 2026

• May’s call history shows another outgoing call to Zack. Source⁠

Late July 2026

• May and Zack separated. May, Emory, and Harlow stayed with May’s mother for several days following the breakup. Source⁠
• During a heated discussion while May and the girls were staying there, May repeatedly yelled, “it’s all about me,” according to her mother. Source⁠
• During the stay, May’s mother observed Emory and Harlow spending extended periods in a bedroom with the door closed. She said Emory occupied herself with toys and television until she fell asleep two hours later, while Harlow remained in a playpen watching her sister. Source⁠
• May’s mother said the girls woke in the morning and remained in the bedroom in soaked diapers until noon. She characterized what she observed as signs of neglect. Source⁠
• May went into the swimming pool by herself while the girls were awake inside the house. Her mother said she had suggested that they take the girls swimming together, but May entered the pool several times without taking the children or asking her mother to join her. Source⁠
• May told her mother that she was talking to a new man and spent hours on the phone during the weekend. Her mother believed the man was someone from May’s past who was married and had children in Florida. The screenshot does not independently establish his identity or marital status. Source⁠

Following Week

• Harlow developed what May’s mother described as a “horrific diaper rash.” Her mother considered the rash additional evidence of the neglect she believed she had observed during May and the girls’ stay at her home. Source⁠

August 2, 2026

• May told Zack that she needed time and asked him to reach out to his mother, father, or Britney if he needed someone to talk to. She told him to stop trying to make her feel guilty and said she needed space.
• 3:55 p.m., May stopped sharing her location with Zack.
• 7:32 p.m., Zack asked May to obtain milk, juice, and detergent. May responded that she was placing the order and that it would arrive by 10:30 p.m.
• 9:47 p.m., Zack told May to turn off her location sharing and said he would stop contacting her if she believed that was healthier. He then told her to come back to the house and said he would leave. Source
• May later stated that she left Zack during August 2026. In a September Facebook post, she wrote that she left him “a month ago” after discovering what she described as a lie that made her question other aspects of their relationship. Source
• May said she initially asked for several days alone at her mother’s house to consider what to do before deciding to leave Zack. Source

August 7, 2026

• 6:10 p.m., Zack contacted May from his work phone and told her that his regular phone was being replaced. He told her to use the work phone to contact him for the next several hours and said the car would be back before she woke up. Source

August 10, 2026

• 12:35 p.m., Zack confronted May about the family’s finances and told her that her current plan was not working. He accused her of isolating herself, said she had “burned every bridge,” and referenced a recording involving writing on a wall in crayon. Zack told May that he believed she was becoming increasingly disconnected from the people around her. These statements reflect Zack’s account and concerns at the time. Source
• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance involving Justine May and Zachary Edward “Zack” Deacon. May told deputies that during an argument Deacon followed her outside, slapped her vehicle and attempted to prevent her from leaving. A deputy observed handprints on a vehicle window but reported no visible injuries. May told deputies the encounter had not become physical.
  • Deacon told deputies that May had mental-health issues and was experiencing an episode. The report stated that Deacon could not provide evidence supporting that assertion and deputies found no previous incidents involving mental-health concerns about May. Neither May nor Deacon could provide deputies access to security-camera footage. 
  • Deputies did not pursue charges because of inconsistencies between May and Deacon’s accounts. May and Deacon agreed to separate for the night, with Deacon keeping the children and his father available to assist him. 

August 14, 2026

• This was the last day May’s mother saw Emory and Harlow before May began refusing her requests to see the children. Source⁠

August 23, 2026

• Zack saw Emory and Harlow for the last time. After this date, May denied his requests to see the girls despite previously telling family members she would never prevent Zack from seeing his children. Source

August 24, 2026

• May’s mother went to May’s residence and banged on the door because she was concerned about May and the girls. May objected to relatives appearing at the house and cited the visit when asking the family to give her space. Source⁠

August 26, 2026

• Deacon requested another welfare check, reporting that May had been acting unusually, had stopped communicating with him and other relatives, and that writing he had seen on a wall while babysitting raised concerns about the children’s safety.
  • Deputy Christopher L. Harris reported that May eventually answered the door and invited him inside. Harris checked on the girls, who were in bed and appeared to be sleeping. He reported no immediate signs of distress or problems with the home. 
  • May told Harris that she wanted space from Deacon and other family members and attributed the writing on the wall to Deacon. May also told Harris that another deputy had checked on her and the children the previous day. Harris notified Deacon of his findings and advised him of options through Family Court regarding custody and other family concerns.
• At 7:05 p.m., May’s mother asked her to explain what boundaries she wanted the family to respect. She said May had not called, texted, or acknowledged her communications since leaving her house the previous Sunday. Source⁠
• May’s mother told her that she had not seen Emory and Harlow since August 14 and asked whether May intended to block her from both May and the children. Source⁠

August 28, 2026

• 12:59 p.m., May told her mother that she would begin communicating with the family again if they respected her request for space. She told her, “Showing up banging at my door is not okay.” Source⁠
• May said the children were “great” but complained that police had been to the residence “way too many times.” She asked her family to respect her space and said she would contact them when she was ready. Source⁠
• May’s mother explained that she had gone to the residence because she was genuinely concerned and told May that she missed her and the girls. May again asked for space without police or relatives coming to the door. Source⁠

August 30, 2026

• According to Sheriff Carl Ritchie, a visit involving the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) occurred on August 30. Ritchie later said the visit did not result in findings requiring immediate law-enforcement intervention.

September 2026

• Financial communications showed two checking accounts with negative available balances of -$36.14 and -$206.78. Zack told May his next paycheck should bring the accounts “just above water.” Source⁠
• Zack sent May money intended for the mortgage, and May’s mother loaned her $1,200 to help. May’s mother said the mortgage nevertheless remained unpaid. Source⁠
• A bank hanger card was left on May’s front door instructing her to contact the bank. May’s mother interpreted the notice as part of the collection or foreclosure process. Source⁠
• According to her mother, electricity at May’s residence had been disconnected for nonpayment. Her mother also described the mailbox and garbage bins as overflowing while May remained inside the residence with the girls and had restricted contact with relatives. Source⁠
• May’s mother said DSS already had an open case involving May. The available screenshot does not establish when the case was opened, what allegations initiated it, or any DSS findings. Source⁠
• Zack’s father removed guns from the house during the escalating family dispute. Source⁠
• May’s father, C.J., and Zack communicated about ensuring Emory and Harlow were safe. May’s mother compared their cooperation to the “pact” May had previously described in her vision or dream but denied that any actual pact existed to conceal murder or cheating. Source⁠
• May’s mother said May had gone to a doctor after Harlow’s birth and had been prescribed medication. She questioned whether May was taking it and expressed her belief that May could be experiencing postpartum depression, an Adderall addiction, or both. The screenshot documents the mother’s belief and does not establish either as a diagnosis. Source⁠
• May’s mother explicitly warned May that she feared the situation “could lead to you harming the girls and/or yourself.” She referenced the Lindsay Clancy trial while explaining why the family was frightened when May refused communication and access to the children. Source⁠

September 3, 2026

• 11:20 a.m., May’s mother formally requested to see Emory and Harlow that Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. She offered to pick the girls up at May’s house and return them at 3:00 p.m., or visit them at the residence if May preferred. Source⁠

September 4, 2026

• May’s mother sent May a lengthy email documenting her concerns about May and the children. She described what she had observed during May and the girls’ stay at her house, May’s isolation from relatives, Zack being denied access to the girls, the financial problems at the residence, and her fear for the children’s safety. Source⁠
• The email stated that Zack had not seen the girls since August 23 and that May had denied his subsequent requests to see them. May’s mother accused her of isolating the children from their father, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Source⁠
• May’s mother referenced a “countdown on the wall in crayon,” the same writing Zack had referenced during his August 10 exchange with May. Source⁠
• May’s mother discussed May’s earlier vision or dream involving her father, C.J., Zack, a gun, a boat, and a pact. She rejected May’s apparent interpretation of the events and told her there had never been a pact between her father and brother to conceal a murder or cheating. Source⁠
• May’s mother explicitly warned that she feared May could harm the girls or herself and pleaded with May to allow her or Zack to care for the children if May was not ready to do so. Source⁠
• May’s mother said Zack had sent money for the mortgage and that she had loaned May $1,200, but alleged that the mortgage remained unpaid. She also referenced the bank notice left on the front door and the electricity being disconnected for nonpayment. Source⁠
• May’s mother offered to help May sell the house and provide a home for May and the girls during the process. She warned that visitation could become a court matter and that police could enforce court-ordered visitation. Source⁠
• May’s mother told May that DSS already had an open case involving her and warned that legal proceedings concerning access to the girls were approaching. Source⁠
• May’s mother ended the email by again asking to see Emory and Harlow, referring to the visitation request she had sent by text the previous day. Source⁠
• 12:18 p.m., May’s mother texted May that she had just sent the email and asked her to read it and contact her. Source⁠
• May responded that her mother was wrong about her and demanded that she stop contacting her. May said she was doing better than ever, described herself as a capable mother, and said she was deliberately distancing herself from her family. Source⁠
• May acknowledged that she was seeing another man, telling her mother, “You know literally nothing about the man I’m seeing.” Her mother had alleged that the man was someone from May’s past who was married and had children in Florida. The screenshots do not independently establish the man’s identity or marital status. Source⁠
• May said police were “on my side with all of this” and knew she intended to request a trespass notice if family members came to the residence. Source⁠
• May told her mother that the request to take the girls was the first such offer during the 2½ years Emory had been alive and the year Harlow had been alive, and that she warned her not to question her motherhood again. Source⁠
• May said she would not respond to another message from her mother until she was ready, “If I am.” Her mother responded that May could be as angry as she wanted but that she would not give up. Source⁠

September 8, 2026

• A later CCSO incident report referenced a September 8 visit involving deputies and SCDSS, during which allegations concerning conditions inside May’s home and the welfare of the children were reportedly determined to be unfounded.

September 9, 2026

• 12:48 p.m., May publicly announced that she had left Zack a month earlier. She said the separation began after what she described as a lie by Zack that led her to discover additional alleged dishonesty. She said she initially went to her mother’s house for several days while deciding whether to end the relationship. Source⁠
• 3:26 p.m., Aunt Yvonne contacted May after Jonathan showed her May’s Facebook post. Yvonne questioned why May had made the dispute public, told her the post made her “look unhinged,” and urged her to stop destroying relationships around her. The characterization reflected Yvonne’s opinion. Source⁠
• 10:16 p.m., May told Yvonne that she was intentionally “outing” Zack and would do whatever she wanted. May said Paige became angry after May distanced herself, called Zack, and told him, “I’m dating a married man.” May described Paige’s allegation but did not confirm in the message that the man was married. Source⁠
• May criticized several relatives and said she was finished allowing people to tell her how to behave. She said she would stop speaking to anyone who failed to respect her boundaries. Source⁠

September 10, 2026

• 5:46 a.m., Yvonne told May that the situation was no longer solely about May because it involved her children. She warned that the court could eventually enter visitation orders so family members could see the girls. Source
• 10:47 a.m., May alleged that Zack had chased her to her car and “tried to do unimaginable things” before she locked the car door. The screenshot documents May’s allegation but does not independently establish what occurred during the encounter. Source
• May told Yvonne that she was “perfectly capable” of determining who should be around her children and said the girls were “having the time of their life” with people who wanted to be around them. Source
• May accused Yvonne of communicating with Zack and gaslighting her. Yvonne disputed May’s accusations and told her that she loved her. May then blocked Yvonne. Source

September 11, 2026

• 3:28 p.m., Deputy Matthew John Meisel responded to May’s residence following a reported mental-health crisis after May’s mother, Denise Theriault, raised concerns about unusual social-media statements, including references to being a “goddess of the night.” 
• May told Meisel that Deacon continued contacting her despite requests that he stop, repeatedly drove past her residence and was an ongoing source of welfare complaints. May provided screenshots of calls and messages, including communications in which Deacon described her as “spiraling,” referenced SCDSS involvement and urged her to “get a grip on reality.” 
• Meisel described May as able to communicate about the repeated law-enforcement contacts. He reported that the home was clean and orderly and described the girls as appearing “healthy, appropriately cared for, and well-fed.” Meisel reported observing no immediate condition requiring emergency intervention. 
• Meisel’s response became part of the basis for seeking a second-degree harassment warrant against Deacon. In addition to unwanted calls, messages and alleged drive-bys, Meisel cited “continuing welfare concerns being reported to law enforcement concerning Ms. May and her children” as part of the alleged pattern of harassment. 
• May subsequently messaged her mother, “Good try with the police.” Source
• May told her mother that police thought her concerns were unfounded and accused her of telling officers that May was “Nyx the goddess of night.” May then blocked her mother. Source

September 12, 2026

• Deputy Cory Miles Ashe accompanied a Mobile Crisis evaluator to May’s residence following another request from May’s mother. Ashe reported that Mobile Crisis spoke with May, determined that she “didn’t meet their criteria,” and left after providing May with information about available resources. The released report did not identify the criteria used, include the evaluator’s assessment or describe a separate examination of the children during the response. 
• Knowing that Deacon had an outstanding harassment warrant, Ashe arranged to meet him at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds in Ladson and arrested him there. According to the report, Deacon “cooperated completely.” Source

September 13, 2026

• The official Charleston County court record lists Zachary Edward Deacon’s arrest date as September 13, 2026. He was charged with second-degree harassment. Source
• 10:00 a.m. Deacon had a bond hearing. The court set a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Source
• 10:13 a.m. May told a victim-witness coordinator that she was seeking a no-contact order against Deacon. Source
• 11:16 a.m. The victim-witness coordinator told May that the judge entered a no-contact order and that Deacon received a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Source
• May also shared information from the Charleston County Detention Center stating that Deacon was charged with second-degree harassment, had received a personal-recognizance bond, would be released within the hour, and was subject to a no-contact order. Source
• 11:42 a.m. The Charleston County court docket recorded a bond-related filing described as “Bond Comment To Notes Screen.” Source
• 11:55 a.m. May publicly posted on Facebook that her ex, Zack Deacon, had been arrested “two nights ago.” May alleged that he had been arrested for “attempted rape downtown” and said he was expected to be released within the hour. Source
• The official Charleston County court record conflicts with May’s claim that Deacon was arrested two nights earlier. The court record lists his arrest date as September 13, 2026, and identifies the charge as second-degree harassment. May’s statement concerning an alleged attempted rape is not the charge reflected in the court record. Source
• May wrote that the South Carolina Department of Social Services was being called to her door “every week,” along with “the mental health crisis people.” Source
• May wrote that relatives were upset because she had cut them off for what she characterized as harassment. She also claimed her mother contacted police and told them May was “Nyx the goddess of night.” Source
• In a public Facebook exchange, Barbara Deacon, who identified Zack as her son and referred to him as the father of Emory and Harlow, disputed May’s allegations and alleged that May was preventing Zack, May’s parents, and other relatives from seeing the children. Source
• Barbara Deacon alleged that May’s parents and brother had been trying to persuade her to get help. She publicly pleaded with May to seek help “before you harm your babies.” The warning was posted 16 days before September 29, 2026, when deputies found the children deceased. Source
• C.J. May joined the exchange and alleged that May had blocked their family and would no longer answer him. He wrote, “We need to get Justine help and we need everyone’s help!” Source
• C.J. posted screenshots of private communications that he said documented communications involving May and family members and supported his concerns about May and the children. Source
• May responded directly to Barbara Deacon and C.J. May, disputed their version of events, and made serious accusations against Zack and other family members. Those accusations have not been independently established. Source

September 14, 2026

• 11:15 a.m., Zack confronted May about the allegation concerning the new man. Zack said Paige had told him May was “talking to a married guy with kids.” The message documents the allegation but does not establish that the man was married. Source⁠
• Zack again referenced May’s writing on the wall and told her, “DSS has an open case.” The message establishes that Zack was referring to a DSS case by this date but does not establish its status or findings. Source⁠
• Police conducted a welfare check on Emory and Harlow. Zack said police told him that the children were okay. Source⁠

September 15, 2026

• 2:05 p.m., Zack told May that her Facebook posts were making her “look very bad” and pleaded with her to “snap out of this.” Source⁠
• Zack sent May a lengthy message expressing concern about the changes he believed he had witnessed for more than a month. He emphasized that his concerns were not about their separation and said May had always been a good mother to Emory and Harlow. Source⁠
• Zack said he remained frightened about May and the children despite police saying the girls were okay during the previous day’s welfare check. He warned that additional welfare checks would continue if family members remained concerned about the girls. Source⁠
• Zack repeatedly pleaded with May to seek help, writing that he was saying it for the children and for the people May was pushing away. Source⁠

September 2026

• May told family members she intended to leave and withdraw from financial decisions to allow the situation to calm down. A family member confronted May’s father, Keith, about May’s claim involving someone being killed on a boat and a pact involving C.J. The family member also said money would be sent to Denise each week for the girls. The screenshot does not display the date of this exchange. Source⁠
• May told Uncle Johnny that caring for the girls and everything else on her own had “been a lot.” In a subsequent exchange, Johnny told May that relatives had come to check on the children because they were concerned. May responded that she had been “completely cleared by everyone.” The screenshot does not display calendar dates for these messages. Source⁠
• Zack was charged with second-degree harassment. A Charleston County Detention Center representative notified May that he had been granted a personal recognizance bond and would be released from custody. May was also informed that a no-contact order was in effect. The screenshot does not display the calendar date of the notification. Source⁠
• A victim-witness coordinator contacted May regarding Zack’s bond hearing. May said she would not attend and told the coordinator she wanted a no-contact order. At 11:16 a.m., the coordinator informed May that the judge had entered the no-contact order and set a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. The screenshot does not display the calendar date. Source⁠

September 22, 2026

• According to Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie, an on-duty supervisor decided to discontinue additional welfare checks at Justine May’s residence. Ritchie said the decision was based on previous contacts, involvement by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Mobile Crisis, and the absence of new information indicating an immediate threat to May or her daughters, Emory and Harlow Deacon. Source⁠
  • Sheriff Carl Ritchie later confirmed that an on-duty supervisor ordered additional welfare checks at May’s residence discontinued on September 22. Ritchie said the decision was based on the totality of information available at the time, including previous contacts, involvement by DSS and Mobile Crisis, and the absence of new actionable information indicating an immediate threat to May or her children. 
  • Ritchie said deputies made nine separate visits between August 25 and September 20 involving contact with May and/or her children. FITSNews noted that this description does not establish that deputies personally observed both girls during all nine visits. 
  • Ritchie said available records showed no conditions indicating the children were in immediate danger or required emergency law-enforcement intervention. He cited the August 30 SCDSS visit and September 12 Mobile Crisis response as contacts that did not produce findings requiring immediate intervention. 

September 24–26, 2026

• Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal determined that Emory Deacon, 33 months old, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old, had been dead for three to five days before they were found on September 29, placing their estimated deaths between September 24 and September 26, 2026. O’Neal said additional testing and investigative information could further narrow the estimated time of death. Source⁠

September 29, 2026

• 10:57 a.m. A woman identified in the 911 call as Anna saw Justine May walking approximately three to five houses away from her residence at 3280 Pinewood Drive in Ladson, South Carolina, without her two daughters. Anna said May normally had the children with her wherever she went and described seeing her without them as unusual. Source⁠
• Anna contacted Charleston County Communications and requested a welfare check specifically on May’s children. She described May as an acquaintance, said May’s behavior was “very different,” and reported that May was not allowing anyone to see the girls and that nobody had seen them. Source⁠
• Anna told the dispatcher she had heard the girls were “always napping” and asked law enforcement to at least “lay eyes on them.” She also asked that May not be told who had called because she did not know May’s current state and did not want to make her unnecessarily angry. Source⁠
• During subsequent radio traffic, dispatch advised a deputy of the welfare-check request at 3280 Pinewood Drive. A responding unit stated that they were “no longer conducting welfare checks at that address.” Source⁠
• Another deputy advised dispatch that they would respond to the Pinewood Drive residence to meet with DSS. A second unit said they would patrol the surrounding area to determine whether May was still walking nearby. An officer subsequently reported no contact on Berrywood, while another advised that DSS was approximately one minute away. Source⁠
• According to the subsequent homicide-by-child-abuse affidavits, when the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office responded to 3280 Pinewood Drive, May came outside the residence crying and speaking incoherently. Because deputies had previously responded to the residence for welfare checks and knew May was normally caring for her two young daughters, deputies entered the home to ensure the children were safe. Source⁠
• Deputies entered the residence and found May’s two young daughters deceased. The affidavits state that both children were “obviously deceased” and that no lifesaving measures could be performed. Source⁠
• Radio traffic subsequently changed to an emergency status, and additional law-enforcement personnel began responding to Pinewood Drive. Dispatch later received a request for a civilian callout for a deceased party at 3280 Pinewood Drive. Source⁠
• 1:24 p.m. Dispatch identified this as the timestamp for the emergency radio traffic. Additional law-enforcement personnel continued responding to Pinewood Drive. Source⁠
• An officer advised dispatch that a light-gray Volkswagen backed into the driveway would be documented in the CAD record. The incident was assigned case number 1487. Source⁠
• After being advised of her Miranda rights, May gave a statement to detectives. According to the affidavits, May said the previous two weeks had been a “blur” and that she could not remember the last time she fed her daughters or gave them something to drink. Source⁠
• According to the affidavits, May told detectives that she believed the children died because they did not eat. Investigators stated that May acknowledged that not feeding the children was neglectful. Source⁠
• May told investigators that she had been the only person present at the residence and was the children’s sole caregiver during the preceding weeks. Source⁠
• According to the affidavits, May described her daughters as being 1½ and 2½ years old, both younger than 11. Investigators alleged that May failed to provide the children with the basic sustenance necessary to maintain life and described that failure as a main contributor to their deaths. Source⁠
• A deputy later advised dispatch that one female would be transported from Pinewood Drive to CID, with a starting mileage of 6084. Additional units and peer-support personnel continued responding as the investigation proceeded. Source⁠

September 30, 2026

• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Detective W. Muirheid submitted separate probable-cause affidavits concerning each child. The affidavits alleged probable cause that May caused the deaths of Juvenile 1 and Juvenile 2 while committing child abuse or neglect under circumstances demonstrating an extreme indifference to human life. Source⁠
• The affidavits were sworn and subscribed before a Charleston County magistrate on September 30, 2026. May was charged with two counts of Homicide by Child Abuse under South Carolina Code § 16-3-85, one count concerning each child. Source⁠

October 1, 2026

• The Charleston County Coroner’s Office identified the two children found deceased inside Justine May’s Ladson residence as Emory Deacon, 33 months old, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old. Source⁠
• Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal determined that both children died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. The manner of death for both children was officially classified as homicide. Source⁠
• Forensic autopsies were conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as part of the investigation into the deaths of Emory and Harlow Deacon. Source⁠

October 2, 2026

• The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit Department of Child Fatalities was assisting the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation into the deaths of Emory and Harlow. Source⁠
• May remained in custody after waiving her bond hearing. Her first court appearance was scheduled for late November 2026. Source⁠
• The Law Offices of Gedney M. Howe IV issued a statement on behalf of Zack Deacon and the family of Emory and Harlow Deacon following the deaths of the two girls. The statement said the family was grieving and focusing on supporting one another and participating in the investigation. Source⁠
• The family said neighbors, friends, the Deacon family, and Justine May’s parents had all called seeking help for the girls. Attorney Gedney M. Howe IV stated on Zack Deacon’s behalf, “We believe these deaths could and should have been prevented.” Source⁠
• Howe stated that neighbors, friends and family had called trying to obtain help for Emory and Harlow and alleged that “no one listened.” He further stated, “Zack was sounding the alarm and was arrested for it.” Source⁠
• The family said seeking justice for Emory and Harlow was its primary concern and announced plans to meet with investigators and prosecutors. The family requested privacy while the investigation continued. Source⁠

October 6, 2026

• Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal announced that Emory and Harlow Deacon had been deceased for three to five days before deputies discovered their bodies on September 29. O’Neal emphasized that the investigation remained ongoing and that additional testing and information could help narrow the estimated time of death. **Source**⁠
• Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie defended his department’s response to repeated welfare concerns involving Justine May and her daughters. Ritchie stated that deputies and DSS representatives had visited the residence multiple times and that the children appeared to be doing well during previous contacts. He acknowledged that the department was reviewing its procedures while the investigation continued. **Source**⁠
• The South Carolina Department of Social Services issued a statement explaining that it cannot independently remove children from parental custody. According to DSS, removal requires law enforcement to determine that a child faces imminent and substantial danger and place the child into emergency protective custody, or a family court judge to issue an order. **Source**⁠

October 7, 2026

• Attorney Gedney M. Howe IV, representing Zach Deacon and the Deacon family, issued a formal statement criticizing Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) over their handling of the welfare concerns preceding the deaths of Emory and Harlow Deacon. The family expressed disappointment that Ritchie publicly defended his department’s actions less than 48 hours before the children’s funeral. Source⁠

• Howe stated that Sheriff Ritchie had publicly assured viewers that deputies checked on the children, that the girls appeared to be doing well, and that the department stood behind its deputy. Howe questioned how the sheriff could publicly defend the investigation while the children’s father had not been permitted to review the underlying investigative records. Source⁠

• Howe reported that his attempts to obtain the Sheriff’s Office investigative file had been unsuccessful. According to Howe, officials told him the file was still being assembled and required review and redaction before it could be released. The requested records included investigations conducted before the children’s deaths and documents underlying Zach Deacon’s arrest. Source⁠

• The Deacon family disputed the Sheriff’s Office’s statements concerning its last contact with Justine May and her daughters. Howe said CCSO had identified both September 20 and September 22, 2026, as the last contact dates and had claimed there were no additional calls for service directly to the residence before the children were discovered. Howe called that claim “demonstrably false”, stating that his office had spoken with witnesses who contacted authorities seeking help during that period. Source⁠

• Howe cited a recorded deputy radio transmission stating that deputies were “no longer conducting welfare checks at that address.” He questioned who authorized the decision, when it was made, and why welfare checks were discontinued despite continued concerns about the children’s safety. Source⁠

• Howe stated that the Deacon family’s trust in the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office had been irreparably damaged and that Sheriff Ritchie’s public statements had further undermined that trust. Source⁠

• Howe formally called on Sheriff Ritchie to request an independent investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) into the Sheriff’s Office’s handling of the case. He requested an examination of the following:

• • Zach Deacon’s arrest: The legal basis for his arrest, who authorized it, and whether the arrest was lawful. Howe characterized the arrest as resulting from Deacon’s calls to 911.

• • Discontinuation of welfare checks: Who ordered deputies to stop conducting welfare checks, when the decision was made, and the justification.

• • Previous law-enforcement responses: How deputies handled 21 calls and at least 13 responses between August 10 and September 29, 2026, including what officers documented and personally observed.

• • Agency coordination: Communication and cooperation between CCSO, the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), and Mobile Crisis.

• • Emergency protective custody: Whether authorities considered placing the children into emergency protective custody and what assessments were conducted.

• • Evidence preservation: Whether records and video recordings from previous contacts were preserved without alteration.

• • Officer conduct: Whether deputies complied with department policies and acted professionally and thoroughly throughout their responses. Source⁠

• Howe clarified that SLED’s Child Fatalities Unit was already assisting in the criminal investigation involving Justine May, but the family was requesting a separate, independent investigation into CCSO’s actions before the children’s deaths. Source⁠

• Howe cited South Carolina Code § 23-3-15, which establishes SLED’s statewide criminal investigative jurisdiction. He called on Sheriff Ritchie to formally request an independent review. If Ritchie declined, Howe urged the Ninth Circuit Solicitor, South Carolina Attorney General, or Governor to request the investigation. Source⁠

• Howe criticized the fact that CCSO’s Office of Professional Standards was conducting the department’s internal review. He argued that an internal investigation was insufficient because Sheriff Ritchie had already publicly defended the department’s conduct. Howe also referenced Ritchie’s 2024 campaign promise to bring accountability and transparency to the Sheriff’s Office. Source⁠

• Howe concluded his statement by emphasizing that Emory and Harlow deserved the truth and that their father deserved access to the investigative records rather than learning details of the case through news reports. Source⁠

October 8, 2026

• Attorney Gedney M. Howe IV, representing Zach Deacon and the Deacon family, released a statement criticizing the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carl Ritchie over their handling of the welfare concerns preceding the deaths of Emory and Harlow Deacon. The family said it was deeply disheartened by Ritchie’s public defense of the department. Source⁠
• Howe stated that his attempts to obtain the Sheriff’s Office investigative file had been unsuccessful. According to Howe, the department said the file was still being assembled, reviewed and redacted, despite Sheriff Ritchie publicly discussing its contents. The requested records included investigations conducted before the children’s deaths and documents underlying Zach Deacon’s arrest. Source⁠
• The Deacon family disputed the Sheriff’s Office’s account of its response to welfare concerns. The family said witnesses had contacted authorities seeking help and pointed to a deputy’s recorded radio transmission stating that deputies were “no longer conducting welfare checks at that address.” The Sheriff’s Office maintained that the decision followed supervisory direction but had not publicly identified the supervisor or explained the specific basis for that direction. Source⁠
• The family formally called for an independent investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) into the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office’s handling of the case. The requested review included:
  • The circumstances, legal basis and authorization for Zach Deacon’s arrest.
  • Who ordered welfare checks discontinued, when the decision was made and the justification.
  • How deputies handled 21 calls and at least 13 responses involving the residence between August 10 and September 29.
  • Coordination with DSS and Mobile Crisis and whether emergency protective custody was considered.
  • Preservation of records and video evidence.
  • Deputies’ compliance with department policies and the thoroughness of their responses. Source⁠
• Howe emphasized that SLED’s Child Fatalities Unit was already assisting with the criminal investigation involving Justine May, but the family was requesting a separate, independent investigation into the Sheriff’s Office’s conduct before the children’s deaths. Source⁠
• The family called on Sheriff Ritchie to formally request SLED’s independent review. If he declined, Howe urged the Ninth Circuit Solicitor, South Carolina Attorney General or Governor to request the investigation. The family argued that the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing internal review through its Office of Professional Standards was insufficient because the agency was investigating its own conduct. Source⁠
• 2:00 p.m. Funeral services for Emory and Harlow Deacon were scheduled to take place in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The family’s statement was released earlier that morning. Source⁠

During the Two Weeks Before September 29, 2026

• According to probable cause affidavits, May told Charleston County Sheriff’s Office investigators that she had been in a “blur” for the previous two weeks. Source
• Investigators alleged that May was the children’s sole caregiver during that period. Source
• May allegedly told investigators she could not remember the last time she had provided her daughters with food or something to drink. Investigators alleged that the failure to provide food and fluids contributed to their deaths. Source

September 29, 2026

• 1:17 p.m., Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 3280 Pinewood Drive in Ladson, South Carolina, for a welfare check. Source
• According to the probable cause affidavits, May came outside when deputies arrived and was crying and speaking incoherently. Source
• Deputies were already familiar with May because they had responded to previous welfare checks at the residence. Deputies knew she normally cared for two young daughters and entered the home to check on the children’s safety. Source
• Deputies discovered both girls deceased inside the residence. According to the affidavits, the children were beyond the point at which lifesaving measures could be performed. Source
• Sheriff’s spokesperson Lexi Douglas initially confirmed that deputies had located two deceased people while responding to the welfare check. Source
• May reportedly told investigators that her daughters were 18 months old and 2½ years old. The probable cause affidavits attributed those ages to May, but the Charleston County Coroner’s Office did not independently confirm them. Those reported ages should be distinguished from social-media information indicating that May’s youngest child was born on June 8, 2025. Source
• After detectives advised May of her Miranda rights, she allegedly told investigators that she believed her daughters had died because they had not eaten. Source
• According to the affidavits, May allegedly acknowledged that failing to feed the children was neglectful. Investigators alleged that her failure to provide adequate food and fluids contributed to both deaths. The affidavits did not include autopsy findings or an official medical determination of either child’s cause of death. Source
• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the Charleston County Coroner’s Office responded to the residence. Authorities asked residents and members of the media to avoid the Pinewood Drive area while investigators processed the scene. Source
• Investigators went door to door, asking neighbors what they had seen or heard. Neighbor Shannon Green told News 4 that the neighborhood was generally quiet and that she learned something was happening after seeing information on social media and observing numerous police vehicles outside. Source
• Law enforcement took Justine Marie May, 31, into custody. Court records subsequently showed that she was charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse, one charge in connection with each child’s death. Source

September 30, 2026

• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Detective W. Muirheid submitted separate probable-cause affidavits concerning each child. The affidavits alleged probable cause that May caused the deaths of Juvenile 1 and Juvenile 2 while committing child abuse or neglect under circumstances demonstrating an extreme indifference to human life. Source⁠
• The affidavits were sworn and subscribed before a Charleston County magistrate on September 30, 2026. May was charged with two counts of Homicide by Child Abuse under South Carolina Code § 16-3-85, one count concerning each child. Source⁠

October 1, 2026

• Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal identified the children as Emory Deacon, 33 months old, and Harlow Deacon, 15 months old. Source
• The Charleston County Coroner’s Office determined that both girls died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. Source
• The Coroner’s Office ruled both deaths homicides. Source
• The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating the deaths. Source

September 30, 2026

• Charleston County court records publicly identified May as the woman charged in connection with the children’s deaths and confirmed that she faced two counts of homicide by child abuse. Source
• May waived her bond appearance. Court records indicated that she would remain in custody pending further proceedings. Source
• Under South Carolina law, homicide by child abuse carries a potential sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment if convicted. Source

November 20, 2026

• May is scheduled for an initial court appearance on the two homicide by child abuse charges. Source