Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-03**Lead**
A South Carolina mother accused of killing her two young daughters told investigators she could not remember the last time she fed them, according to affidavits unsealed this week. The children, ages 2 and 4, were found dead in their home in Spartanburg County on September 28, 2026, after authorities responded to a welfare check requested by a concerned family member. The mother, whose identity has not been publicly released by officials pending formal charges, is currently in custody facing two counts of homicide by child abuse.
**Context**
The affidavits, filed by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and obtained by local media, detail a grim scene. Deputies arrived at the residence on Oakwood Drive around 2:30 p.m. after a relative reported not hearing from the family for several days. Upon entering the home, officers found the two girls unresponsive in separate bedrooms. Emergency medical personnel pronounced them dead at the scene. Preliminary autopsy results, cited in the affidavits, indicated severe malnutrition and dehydration as contributing factors. The documents state that when questioned, the mother appeared disoriented and was unable to provide a coherent timeline of when she last gave the children food or water. She reportedly told investigators, "I don't remember the last time I fed them," and could not explain how long they had been without care.
Court records show the mother, a 29-year-old woman, had a history of mental health issues, though no formal diagnosis has been confirmed in the filings. Neighbors told local news outlets that they rarely saw the children outside and had noticed the mother acting erratically in recent months. Child Protective Services had no prior substantiated cases against the family, according to state officials, but a report of neglect was filed two years ago and closed after an investigation found insufficient evidence. The children's father is not listed as a resident at the address and is cooperating with authorities, according to the sheriff's office.
**Analise**
This case has reignited scrutiny of child welfare systems in South Carolina, which ranks among the highest in the nation for child neglect fatalities per capita, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Experts in child protection note that cases of severe neglect often go undetected when families are isolated from community networks. "When a caregiver is struggling with mental illness or substance abuse, the warning signs can be invisible until it's too late," said Dr. Linda Morrison, a child psychologist at the University of South Carolina, in a statement to the Associated Press. "The inability to recall basic caregiving tasks is a red flag that often precedes catastrophic outcomes." The affidavits do not indicate whether the mother was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the deaths, but toxicology results are pending.
The legal implications are severe. Under South Carolina law, homicide by child abuse carries a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. Prosecutors are expected to argue that the mother's failure to provide sustenance constitutes extreme indifference to human life. Defense attorneys will likely focus on her mental state, potentially seeking a competency evaluation. The case also raises questions about the adequacy of mental health resources for parents in crisis. South Carolina has one of the lowest ratios of psychiatric beds per capita in the country, and community mental health centers are often underfunded, leaving vulnerable families without support.
**Fontes**
This article is based on information from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office affidavits filed with the Spartanburg County Court, statements from the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and reporting from the Associated Press and local affiliate WSPA-TV. Data on child neglect fatalities is sourced from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, Child Maltreatment Report (2025). Expert commentary attributed to Dr. Linda Morrison is from her public statement to the Associated Press.