A mother and father were arrested over the alleged neglect of their children after their 9-year-old son died in South Carolina last month.
Katie Hill Hefner and Rick Elliott Adkins are both charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, according to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office.
They were arrested after deputies responded to a report of their 9-year-old unresponsive at a Fort Lawn home on September 20, the sheriff’s office said in a Friday, October 9, news release.
The boy was taken to a medical center and declared dead.
Investigators discovered Hefner, 40, and Adkins, 41, “failed to obtain timely medical attention or treatment” for the boy, who had experienced diarrhea and vomiting for four days leading up to his death, according to arrest warrants obtained by the Rock Hill Herald.
While investigating, authorities found “hazardous and unsanitary living conditions” at the Fort Lawn residence, “including animal feces throughout the home and dried human feces on clothing, floors, and walls,” the sheriff’s office said in the news release.
The boy’s cause of death wasn’t immediately clear. Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker confirmed to the Rock Hill Herald that his autopsy results were pending as of October 9.
The investigation prompted concerns for other children who lived with the boy, according to authorities.
The circumstances uncovered during the investigation “were determined to have placed the children at an unreasonable risk of harm to their health and overall safety,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the arrest warrants for Hefner and Adkins, they were also charged in connection with the boy’s 12-year-old sister, who hadn’t been to school in six years, per the Rock Hill Herald.
Investigators reportedly wrote the girl has “apparent developmental and cognitive concerns” and noted that Hefner and Adkins “failed to obtain appropriate medical evaluations, routine healthcare, or developmental services” for her.
The couple hasn’t been directly charged in relation to their son’s death, which the sheriff’s office continues to investigate.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Hefner or Adkins had retained legal counsel.
“The Chester County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to thoroughly investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, protecting the safety and welfare of children within our community, and working alongside our state law enforcement partners to ensure a comprehensive investigation,” the agency said in the news release.
Chester County is about a 50-mile drive southwest from Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
