A South Carolina woman is facing charges after two young children were found dead inside her home during a welfare check, according to authorities.

Justine Marie May, 31, was charged with two counts of homicide by child neglect, Charleston County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Public Information Officer Alexis Douglas told Newsweek in an email Wednesday.

While authorities have not yet publicly released the identities of the victims, family members told reporter Cody Alcorn of WXIA in Atlanta that the girls were named Emory and Harlow, both under age 3.

The children were found Tuesday in a home on Pinewood Drive in Ladson, about 20 miles northwest of Charleston.

The allegations against May come as Massachusetts prosecutors continue pursuing charges against Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of strangling her three children in January 2023.

Clancy's defense has argued that she was suffering from severe postpartum mental illness at the time of the deaths, while prosecutors contend she should be held criminally responsible.

Prosecutors in Illinois allege that Corie Walsh strangled her toddler and left him hanging from a basement rafter inside the family's Frankfort home on September 1. She has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.

Who Is Justine Marie May?

Records reviewed by Newsweek show that May owned the Pinewood Drive home in Ladson where deputies discovered the bodies during a welfare check, along with a 35-year-old man who was listed as her husband.

Officials have also not released information about a possible motive.

According to Alcorn, family members said they spent weeks trying to get help for May and her two daughters before the children were found dead. Relatives told Alcorn that May's behavior changed dramatically about 45 to 60 days ago after being "normal for over 30 years," prompting the family to contact the South Carolina Department of Social Services, request welfare checks and seek assistance from a mobile crisis unit.

The family told Alcorn that they feared their concerns were not taken seriously, saying: “None of it makes sense."

They said relatives became alarmed after seeing a photo that allegedly showed the younger child, Harlow, suffering from a severe rash, and that May stopped communicating with family members about a month before the deaths.

Family members also said that May's mother emailed the local police chief with concerns one day before the girls were discovered dead, raising questions about what authorities knew and what actions were taken before the children died.

It is unclear if May has an attorney.

What the Affidavit Said

Authorities told Newsweek that they were not yet releasing the charging documents, but news website FITSNews in South Carolina reported that the probable cause affidavit says May told investigators she had been in a "blur" for the previous two weeks and could not remember the last time she fed her two daughters or gave them anything to drink.

The affidavit said that May allegedly told detectives she believed the children died because they had not eaten and acknowledged that failing to feed them was neglectful. FITSNews reported that May said she had been the girls' sole caregiver and that no one else had been at the home in the weeks before their deaths.

The affidavit also reportedly states that deputies responding to a welfare check on September 29 were familiar with the residence because of previous welfare-check calls. After arriving at the home, deputies found May outside crying and speaking incoherently before entering the residence and discovering the two children dead.

According to FITSNews, investigators allege that May's failure to provide basic food and fluids contributed to the deaths, though the affidavit did not cite autopsy results or an official cause of death determination.

Recent Child Death Cases Put Focus on Mental Health and Child Safety

The allegations against May come amid a series of high-profile cases involving mothers accused of killing young children, many of which have raised questions about mental health, child welfare interventions and whether warning signs were missed.

One of the most closely watched cases is that of Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children in 2023. Clancy's defense argued she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors maintained she should be held criminally responsible. The case drew national attention and sparked debate over the role mental illness can play in child killings.

The jury deliberated for seven days before becoming deadlocked, reportedly 11-1 in favor of finding Clancy not criminally responsible. Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial on September 4.

Walsh was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, Barrett Walsh.

Prosecutors allege that Walsh killed the toddler after telling officers she believed he was "the devil" and the "Antichrist," while her attorneys have argued she was experiencing a psychotic episode and severe mental health crisis at the time. Walsh has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting trial.

The South Carolina case differs from Clancy's and Walsh's because May's relatives have publicly claimed that they spent weeks trying to get help before the deaths of her daughters.

What Happens Next

May waived a bond hearing that had been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Douglas told Newsweek. It is unclear when her next scheduled court appearance will be.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Homicide by child abuse in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 16-3-85) carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years up to life imprisonment for a direct offense, and 10 to 20 years for knowingly aiding and abetting.

Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they intend to seek enhanced penalties.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Hollie Silverman and Dave Siminoff.