SC Mother Charged With Homicide After 11-Month-Old Found Dead At 4 Pounds

Janette Clayton, 27, now faces a homicide by child abuse charge for the death of her infant daughter in North Charleston. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced the new count on Friday. This charge supersedes the three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child that Clayton initially received.

Nomai Weathers was found dead on June 17 near the front doorway of the family apartment. She was 11 months old and weighed only 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Officials described the unit as being in deplorable conditions, infested with cockroaches and flies. Investigators noted that no food or child care supplies were present in the home.

Court documents indicate Nomai was born prematurely and diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The condition required medically necessary appointments. Clayton allegedly failed to take her daughter to these scheduled visits. An autopsy determined that starvation and acute bronchopneumonia caused by neglect killed Nomai. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide.

The investigation also scrutinized the response of local law enforcement. Two North Charleston Police Department officers were placed on leave after previously visiting the apartment. One officer was later fired and charged with a crime, while the other returned to duty.

The case remains under the lead of the state law enforcement division. Clayton is currently charged with the homicide count. The death occurred more than four months before the new charge was filed.