Inset: Janette Clayton (North Charleston Police Department). Background: The North Charleston, South Carolina, area where police discovered Clayton’s 11-month-old child. (Google Maps).
A South Carolina mother is now facing a homicide charge after her 11-month-old child was found dead in an apartment described by authorities as filthy and heavily infested with insects.
Janette Clayton, 27, was initially charged over the summer with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, according to a press release from the North Charleston Police Department.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or SLED, has since upgraded the case. A new press release and arrest warrant affidavit accuse Clayton of homicide by child abuse.
Police discovered the infant on June 17, shortly before 1:30 p.m., inside an apartment on Eleanor Drive in North Charleston. The charging documents state that the child was “emaciated” and weighed approximately 4 pounds, 13 ounces.
“When they arrived, North Charleston firefighters were performing lifesaving measures on the infant, who was found partially wrapped in a blanket near the front doorway,” police said.
Emergency medical personnel ultimately pronounced the child dead at the apartment. During a protective sweep, officers reported finding few items needed to care for a child and concluded that the infant had been living in dangerous conditions, authorities said.
According to investigators, the alleged neglect began well before the child’s death.
SLED said the child was born prematurely in July 2025 and had been diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a condition requiring regular medical care. Investigators allege that Clayton failed to bring the child to any medical appointments.
The arrest affidavit also details the condition of the apartment.
“The home was in deplorable condition and infested with cockroaches and flies,” the document states. “The home was also devoid of necessary foods for [the child].”
Those allegations were consistent with officers’ observations during the investigation.
“Investigators later executed a search warrant and reported finding no food or child-care supplies inside the home,” the North Charleston Police Department said. “Authorities also observed a severe insect infestation throughout the residence, including in the refrigerator and drawers.”
After SLED assumed control of the investigation, a medical examiner conducted an autopsy. The examination determined that the child died from starvation and acute bronchopneumonia caused by neglect, the agency said.
When officers arrived, Clayton was reportedly outside the apartment with the child’s paternal grandmother and her two other children, according to Charleston-based CBS affiliate WCSC.
Clayton was arrested on the original charges during the summer and has remained in custody at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston County, court records show.
SLED formally charged Clayton with homicide on Wednesday. The 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute the case.
The post Mother facing upgraded charges after ’emaciated’ 11-month-old weighing just over 4 pounds found dead in filthy apartment, authorities say first appeared on Law & Crime.