“HE KEPT ASKING FOR HELP” — TWO LITTLE SISTERS FOUND DEAD AFTER WEEKS OF WELFARE CONCERNS

Emory was just 2 years old. Her little sister Harlow was only 15 months. Their father says he repeatedly raised concerns about their well-being — and now, newly released reports are raising painful questions about what happened before the sisters were found.

Two little girls should have had their whole lives ahead of them — filled with bedtime stories, first words, laughter and the simple joys of growing up together.

Instead, Emory and Harlow Deacon were found dead inside their home in Ladson, South Carolina, on September 29, 2026. Their mother, 31-year-old Justine May, has been charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse.

As the investigation continues, newly reported details about earlier calls to authorities have brought renewed attention to the warnings raised by family members in the weeks before the discovery.

A father’s growing concerns

Zachary “Zack” Deacon had reportedly become increasingly worried about his daughters after his relationship with May ended in early August.

According to newly released incident reports, he contacted deputies on multiple occasions, saying May had been behaving unusually and had stopped communicating with relatives. He also raised concerns about a disturbing message he said he had seen inside the home.

During one earlier welfare check, deputies found the girls asleep and reported no apparent signs of a problem. On September 11, deputies and the Department of Social Services visited after the girls’ maternal grandmother reported concerns about May’s well-being.

The reports said the home was clean and the children appeared well-fed at that time.

But relatives continued to express concern about their ability to contact or see the girls.

The last reported sighting

According to reporting by Live 5 News, September 12 was the last day the sheriff’s office reported seeing the children alive.

Records also show that Zachary was arrested that day on a harassment warrant following the earlier dispute. The circumstances surrounding the family’s interactions with authorities are now receiving renewed scrutiny as more details emerge.

Authorities have said deputies conducted multiple welfare checks at the residence in the weeks before the girls were discovered. Earlier statements indicated that officers had not observed signs of concern during those visits.

The reports raise difficult questions about how the situation was assessed, what information was available at each visit, and whether further intervention might have changed the outcome. Those questions remain distinct from any final conclusions about responsibility for the girls’ deaths.

A heartbreaking discovery

On September 29, deputies returned to the home to conduct another welfare check and found both sisters dead.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office later said the girls died from starvation and dehydration due to neglect. Their deaths were classified as homicides, and officials estimated they had died several days before they were found.

May was arrested and charged in connection with their deaths. The charges are allegations, and the case remains subject to the legal process.

A family left with unanswered questions

In a statement shared through his attorney, the girls’ father said he believed their deaths could and should have been prevented. He said neighbors, friends and relatives had also tried to get help for the children.

The sisters’ family remembered them as joyful little girls whose short lives were filled with music, dancing, laughter and favourite children’s shows.

Emory was described as spirited and remarkably talkative for her age. Harlow was remembered for her happy nature and the sweet kisses she loved to share.

They were two very young children who depended entirely on the adults around them for safety and care.

As investigators continue examining the circumstances leading up to their deaths, the earlier welfare calls have become a central part of the public conversation. Any determination about whether procedures were followed or opportunities were missed will need to be grounded in the full record of the investigation.

Two little sisters are gone, and their loved ones are left grieving lives that had barely begun.