South Carolina dad says he begged the mother of his toddler daughters to ‘please get help’ before both girls were found dead in her home

The father of two toddlers discovered dead in a Ladson, South Carolina, home says the tragedy was entirely preventable. Harlow Deacon, who was 15 months old, and Emory Deacon, who was two years old, were found dead after officers performed a welfare check at their residence. The girls’ mother, 31-year-old Justine May, was found in an incoherent state when authorities arrived at the scene, according to People. She has since been arrested and charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

A coroner later determined that both children died of starvation and dehydration due to neglect. Zack Deacon, the father of the two girls, has spoken out regarding the loss through his lawyer. “We believe these deaths could and should have been prevented. Neighbors, friends, and family all called trying to get help for these girls, and no one listened,” said attorney Gedney M. Howe IV.

Screenshots of text exchanges posted by Justine May on social media show that Zack Deacon had been attempting to reach her in the days leading up to the discovery. He was seen “begging” May for help and reminding her that she’d always been a good mother. May responded by accusing him and her own mother of harassing her.

The family kept warning that something was wrong

Those attempts came at a cost for the father, as he was arrested weeks before the girls were found. He was charged with harassment, as May had told deputies that he kept contacting her. His lawyer said he had been sounding the alarm and was arrested for it. May’s mother also feared for her granddaughters.

In an email shared online by Justine May, she referenced the Lindsay Clancy case, which involves a Massachusetts mother charged with murdering her three children. “Would Justine do this? No. Would this dark entity that is behind Justine’s eyes do this? This haunts my worst nightmares,” May’s mother wrote.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said deputies had visited the Ladson home on 13 occasions before the deaths, and that it had coordinated with the state Department of Social Services. However, the agency said those visits raised no immediate concern for the children’s welfare, as deputies and other agency staff did not report seeing anything alarming. After being taken into custody, Justine May allegedly told investigators that the two weeks before the deaths had been a “blur”.

She also told police she could not remember when she last gave her children food or anything to drink. However, the affidavits state that May was aware that not feeding her children was neglectful. The family of the two girls is grieving, and the statement said relatives are focused on supporting one another. It added that they are taking part in the investigation into the deaths, and that seeking justice for Emory and Harlow is the most important thing to them.

Online court records do not show whether Justine May has entered a plea or retained an attorney. She remains in custody and is expected to return to court in November.