Posted on 07/31/2007 6:36:54 PM PDT by aomagrat
HANAHAN, S.C. (AP) — Two small children who had been left in a hot car while their mother was at work were later found dead, their bodies in trash bags under an apartment sink, authorities said Tuesday.
Autopsies were scheduled Tuesday to determine the causes of death of 1-year-old girl Triniti Campbell and 4-year-old Shawn Campbell Jr., Berkeley County Deputy Coroner George Oliver said.
The children's mother, Sametta Heyward, 27, had taken them to work Monday in downtown Charleston and left them in her car all day as the temperature outside rose to 88 degrees, Oliver said.
Officers investigating a report of a disturbance at Heyward's apartment Monday night and found her crying and yelling, "'Oh, my babies,"' according to an incident report.
A man holding Heyward told officers "the kids were in trash bags and under the cabinet." The police report said Heyward tried to bite and kick the officers, had to be restrained, and was taken to a hospital because medics thought she could be having seizures.
"She stated she wanted to die and asked officers to kill her," the report said.
Hanahan Police Chief Don Wilcox said investigators have not been able to talk to the woman because she was advised by an attorney not to say anything.
"We're trying to run down the timeline, as well as get any physical evidence, so we can determine exactly what took place," Wilcox said.
Neighbor Brandon Coving said he saw Heyward and the children on Sunday. "They were running around, and she had a big smile on her face, and it seemed like a regular day," he said.
Coving lived about eight doors down from Heyward on the second floor of The Willows, a two-story apartment complex with cranberry red doors. There are 44 units at the complex, which resembles a motel.
Apartment manager Ricky Dyson said the 252 square-foot apartment had a queen bed, a small bathroom and an efficiency kitchen.
He said Heyward moved there in May and said she wasn't going to stay long and was looking for another place.
"She was just a regular working girl out there making a living," Dyson said.
Yellow police tape was put up along the door to Heyward's apartment, but there were no officers around at midday Tuesday. A small white teddy bear had been placed outside the apartment.
Hanahan is about 15 miles north of Charleston.
Those innocent children. It’s mind boggling.
I’m not in any way cutting her a break, she should be prosecuted, etc. But, I’m sure what happened is she thought they would be ok (she’s probably not the smartest bulb in the chandalier) and when she discovered they were dead, she panicked, and tried to hide them. I suspect she does indeed feel regret that they died.
None of that (to me) means she shouldn’t be prosecuted, but I can see how it happened. And she should never ever be allowed to have another child to endanger.
susie
The problem is that too often child care is not affordable. So low-income working mothers are forced into this type of situation, taking their small children to work and leaving them in the car.
Women in these situations need to give up their children to foster care or adoption so that higher-income people can raise the children.
There’s a lot of information about this incident at the following link:
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2007/7/31/153411/700
You are, of course, kidding me.
Right?
You got me good on this one.
Right?
You are, of course, kidding me.
Right?
You got me good on this one.
Right?
“The problem is that too often child care is not affordable. So low-income working mothers are forced into this type of situation, taking their small children to work and leaving them in the car.
Women in these situations need to give up their children to foster care or adoption so that higher-income people can raise the children.”
it sure would help if daddy would stick around.
What the hell is happening to our country?
So what the hell did the SCOTUS approve abortions?
America is in a downward spiral, thanks to all libs!!!
To: Scotswife: Well, if the father leaves, what do you suggest should be done?
The most rational solution is probably this: children ought to be taken out of custody of single working mothers earning less than a living wage, and put in foster homes or given to adoption agencies.
That way, situations like these won’t arise.
The following link has information about the incident.
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2007/7/31/153411/700
I wasn’t trying to dispute what you said, I’m just making an observation.
This past month I’ve been reading heartbreaking story after heartbreaking story.
And the common denominator in most cases is that dads aren’t sticking around.
When dad leaves - terrible things happen.
Where is the father?
The federal government has all types of paid child care for low income people.
This story doesn’t smell quite right. I can see a 1 year old, but 4 year olds can get themselves out of car seats and out of cars. I’m not sure I’m buying her story.
Man, talk about your nanny government! Sound soviet to me.
“The federal government has all types of paid child care for low income people.”
If you’re making extremely low income, there’s sometimes government-subsidised child care available. But if you’re making moderately low income, you are often in a bind. You lose the paid child care, but you don’t make enough to afford private child care.
We have a bingo!
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