Mom of dead toddlers charged with homicide by child abuse
Updated 06:38 p.m., July 31, 2007
The Post and Courier
Sametta Heyward, charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse, is brought into the Hanahan police station
HANAHAN — Sheryce Robertson wonders what would have happened Sunday if she hadn't been too sick to watch her neighbors' toddlers.
The children were found dead the next day in garbage bags beneath their mother's kitchen sink.
Robertson said she last saw 4-year-old Shawn Campbell Jr. and 1-year-old Triniti Campbell at 1 p.m. when she told their mother Sametta Heyward that she couldn't watch them.
Heyward told Robertson that she would leave the children at her aunt's while she went to work a 15-hour shift at the Charleston Disabilities Board's Hope Foundation on Morrison Drive.
But police say Heyward never dropped the children off. She was charged Tuesday with homicide by child abuse.
"We can't place judgment," Robertson said. "She may have made a bad decision or a bad choice, but never in a million years did I think something bad would happen."
Hanahan police found the children's bodies while responding to a disturbance call Monday night at The Willows at 1824 Remount Road. Neighbors said they heard a woman screaming, "Oh my babies, my babies." When police arrived, Heyward was in a struggle with a relative and told police officers that she wanted to die. She pleaded with arresting officers to kill her while kicking and biting them.
Several officers finally detained her and took her to Trident Hospital to treat her for possible seizures. Heyward spent most of the day Tuesday at the hospital and wouldn"t talk to police at her attorney's advice. When she entered the sally port at the Hanahan Police Department, she still wore a hospital gown.
Attorney Andy Savage said he wanted to wait until her medical condition was stable before talking with her.
Family members told investigators that Heyward couldn't find anyone to watch the children so she took them to work with her and left them in her car while she cared for disabled clients, Hanahan Police Chief Donald Wilcox said Tuesday.
Berkeley County Deputy Coroner George Oliver said it would be days before they know what caused the children's deaths. "We believe the children did expire while in the vehicle," Oliver said. The children had bruises and scratches on them but nothing that would cause a fatal injury. He said they're still waiting on toxicology tests.
The high temperature Sunday was 88 degrees.
Wilcox confirmed investigators had found a note related to the situation but would not discuss its contents.
But Oliver told The Associated Press that the note from her apartment explained that she had arranged for a baby sitter, but when plans fell through, she took the children with her in the car.
"She pretty much laid out the scenario," Oliver told the AP. "Apparently that's her justification for taking the children with her and for leaving them in the car."
Heyward appeared in Hanahan Municipal Court around 8 p.m. on two charges of homicide by child abuse. The hearing was largely a formality because a circuit judge must set bail on the charges, which carry a possible life sentence.
Heyward sobbed inconsolably as she entered the courtroom, looking down as she was escorted to a chair. Several family members sat behind her in support. Hanahan Municipal Judge Mel Coleman allowed her to remain seated as he informed her of the charges and her rights.
The proceeding lasted only a few minutes and authorities later transported Heyward to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Moncks Corner.
Savage did not expect to request a bond hearing with a circuit judge anytime soon.
"As her attorney, I'm mostly concerned with her health and her legal situation will play out," he said after the hearing.
Friends, family members and police are still trying to figure out what happened.
Wilcox said they found Heyward's car Monday at an Arby's on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. The car had broken down. He said they're not sure whether the children were dead before she drove to Arby's.
"The time line is really up in the air at this point in time," Wilcox said.
Robertson said she would have watched the children if she had known that Heyward couldn't find another baby sitter. She said Heyward was such a good mother that she has no idea how this could have happened.
"That's for God to decide, you know?" Robertson said. "She and God will have to work that out. I still love her. I love her very much."
Family members disputed the ages of the children. They said the daughter was 2 and the son was 3.
Jerome Heyward, a local businessman and former Charleston County Council candidate, said his cousin had some problems she was dealing with but was a caring mother. She had a third child, a 12-year-old son, who lives with his father in Maryland. Police say they are still trying to locate the toddlers' father.
"We're praying for her," Jerome Heyward said. "She's a member of this family and we're standing by her."
Robertson and her husband Tony Smith said they already had come to treat the children as their own in just the two months Heyward had been living in the efficiency apartment complex. Robertson and Heyward often cooked together and the children liked to come over and dance.
"She cooked three meals a day and when I say cooked, I mean cooked, not cold sandwiches," Robertson said. "She loved her kids. She was just as nice as could be."
Every morning Triniti would come over to their apartment two doors down and kiss Smith's photo. She always asked Robertson to call Smith so she could talk to him on the phone.
"She was just learning to talk," Robertson said. "She was always saying, 'I love you.' "
Triniti also played with Robertson's stuffed bears. Robertson placed one of the bears at her neighbor's windowsill in remembrance.
Shawn liked to play video games and dance.
Robertson said she liked to help Heyward because she always kept a good attitude.
"She always did everything she could," Robertson said. "She didn't do food stamps. She didn't do state assistance. She wanted to help herself so I chose to help her."
She also loved her job.
Robertson said she wonders what would have happened had she not been sick, but she doesn't blame herself. It's in God's hands now, she said.
"They're in a better place now," she said of the children.
The Palmetto Mortuary is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Noah Haglund contributed to this report. Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Where was she parked that no one noticed 2 toddlers alone in a car? God, how sick is this. If she would take their poor little bodies and hide them, how could she not know that she was in serious trouble? Evaluation at Trident? Do they even have a psych. ward? She knows what she did, and God knows too.
July 31, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GetFocust (anonymous) says...
Why in the world would you leave a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old in a hot ass car all day? Knowing she didn't leave the car running, but regardless she should've known better! Evaluate her? Put her ass in jail! Plain and simple! You dont leave kids in cars regardless of the fact that you have to go to work. And then put them under the sick? Did she think she could hide them forever there? What a dumbass thats all i got to say!
July 31, 2007 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JonWithnal (anonymous) says...
This is a crime; and like most crime it is senseless.
July 31, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Grymtidings (anonymous) says...
Being the father of a young daughter this is more than disturbing to me. GetFocust, you would be much nicer than I would to her. Children rely on us to protect them from harm and nurture them into adulthood. What this woman did was murder her children, plain and simple. If it is found that she did this deed then don't make me pay for her to sit in jail and feed this criminal, give her the painful death she made those children go through and do it swiftly. People like this do not deserve to live in a civilized society.
July 31, 2007 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Oh, dear Lord,I wish they had not shown those little kid's pics.What beautiful children they were. I could wring that b***h's neck! I don't care what her excuses are. God gave her 2 precious gifts and this is what she does with them?
This was not a simple case of negligence, it was murder! As a parent I cannot comprehend how someone could do this.
July 31, 2007 at 7:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Columbia1007 (anonymous) says...
You are some judgement people! Yes she made a huge mistake one she can't come back from! However, she was a single mom trying to work to provide for her childern, not getting goverment assistance. I ask all of you the next time your younger sister, cousin, neighbor ask you to babysit so they can go to work, are you going to do what God requires and Help. Or be the judemental selfish people that you appear to be and say no. I am a single mom and I thank GOd I have a good support system to help me when or if I need help with my son. I personal would have called in sick that day, I guess she did not think she had the option.
July 31, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katrenavantassle (anonymous) says...
This woman is definitely sick in the head. God gave her a gift twice and because her job was more important than the welfare of her children, she threw them away like the trash. Without a second thought, she knew after she found them that she was going to jail...so she hid them. That is another charge on her. So many women can't have children and this woman, Susan Smith and the one in Texas....who kill their own kids: well, not even a mother DOG WILL DO THAT!!!
I want all to rest in peace knowing that these children are safely in the arms of Jesus now, and that the mothers of these children will certainly have to answer to their maker for what they have done!!!! God Bless the Children of the world!!!
Katrenavantassle
July 31, 2007 at 8:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mokencheryl (anonymous) says...
I have been reading the other comments. Are we suppose to feel sorry for this woman? The one thing I want to say is that she should have known better. She is 27 years old. This was not some teenage mother.
July 31, 2007 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
poorboy (anonymous) says...
This is very tragic and just breaks every person's heart I'm sure. Mine included and I couldn't take a second look at these kids picture without losing it. They truly were beautiful. But the question here is where is the father or fathers?? No mention of him or them in the news or this article. She looks like a first rate mother from this picture and incapable of taking care of children. When is this out of wedlock child rearing going to stop. This is a wrong on the black community perpetrated by the democrats via the welfare state they wish to create. Rewarding unwed mothers and not holding fathers responsible for taking care of their own has not and will not work! Look at the news every night. If young black men are not killing each other they're robbing someone. NAACP do your people right and promote the two parent family not dependents for generations!
July 31, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
Columbia1007,
Excuse my language but what the hell are you talking about??? This so called "mother" left her kids in the car to die. What part of that story are you missing? She made a "huge mistake?" Are you reading the same story we are? Ok, so you would agree with all single moms that can't find a babysitter to just leave their kids in the car all day and let them die? What planet do you live on?
And then like someone said, to come to the car, see her kids dead, and not call 911, but to drive the kids home, take each one out the car, stuff them in plastic bags and put them under the sink with cleaning supplies! Is that the way two precious children should die? I don't even know why I am responding to your senseless comments! And you have kids?
July 31, 2007 at 8:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Columbia1007 (anonymous) says...
I do not approve of what she did at all. If you read the end of my orginal comment, I said I would have called into work.We don't know whole truth. Her putting her kids in trash bad was terrible, leaving in the car while she worked in 88 degrees is terrible, her oldest son who has to deal with the lost of his sibling and his mother going to jail is terrible. (By the way he is 13 and can read so be careful how you post youropinion) I do sympathize with the mother! Who am not not? WHo are you to call an sicko or evil person? On the news her neighbor was being the community not to judge. And she knew the young lady personally. As a sensible adult I respect all the comments posted, so don't question or judge me because I feel compassion for the entire family and the community. I think it was it last year when a young lady from Monk COrner killed her childern, Last summer a young lady in Columbia left her child in the car at a blockbuster while she work for eight hours, the list is long about parents neglecting their childern. Again I am so greatful to God that I have a Great support system to help with my son.
I heard they have a found for the funeral to all of you loving parents who posted so negitival, I know you will gave to help give the kids a proper burial.
July 31, 2007 at 10:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Palbella (anonymous) says...
To Columbia1007 on July 31, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted:
You are some judgement people! Yes she made a huge mistake one she can't come back from!
A mistake is when you use 1 cup of sugar instead of 1/2.
A mistake is when you write the wrong amount in a checkbook.
A mistake is mistyping a word.
A mistake is not handing a clerk the right amount for a purchase.
This was no mistake.....it was intentional and it was murder.
I raised two children alone with no one to babysit them but i never left them in a car in the heat and alone while i worked and then to toss them aside like trash. Hardships of raising children by yourself is no excuse for murdering them.
July 31, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Columbia1007 (anonymous) says...
You were blessed just like me! Be greatful! Do you think that young lady feel no remorse! Come chick!
Did you know the young lady? Did you have a conversation with her? I am looking at Nancy Grace, the Ms. Heyward friend is on they saying over and over that she was a good person and she loveed her childern. I am not going aroung and around about this I respect all of your opinions.
Again I do not agree with what she did! But I beleive in life and building up. You are so focused on her she has family members again she has a 13 year son!
July 31, 2007 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RENITAFOLSOM (anonymous) says...
We as human being are so quick to judge.When I read this article my heart went out to this poor lady and those defenseless children.Yes she should have used better judgement regarding this situation,It's enough blame to go a little futher than her. I lay some blame on our GOv., The poor woman probably wared with her self about the decision she made.She had no other choice but to work.I amagine she weighed the situation,If I don't go to work the lights will get turned off,less food for my kids,bottom line the kids were the the ones who lost to a selfish GOV.
July 31, 2007 at 10:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
I divorced an abusive alcoholic husband in 1994 and raised two children myself. I did not ask the government to feed my children or to provide babysitters for them - that was MY RESPONSIBILITY. It was very difficult at times, especially financially, but I didn't continue having children. The parent is ultimately responsible.
July 31, 2007 at 11:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MJLowery (anonymous) says...
Wow, Columbia1007 ... "we don't know the whole truth" ?
How much more do you need to know to have a sickening, horrifying reaction after hearing such a report?
... she left her children in the car in the heat
... to have seizures, neurological damage, bruises, scratches while their tiny bodies slowly failed
... while she pulled into an Arby's to eat
... arrived home to wrap two babies in trashbags and then put them under the sink!!!!!!!!!?????????
And seriously, you can justify this as the plight of a single mother?
Tell us we don't have the whole truth?
Actually imply that there's some logical explanation for this?
Absolutely freakin unreal.
July 31, 2007 at 11:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lulu08 (anonymous) says...
Some of you are really going too far! Shame on you for judging this poor lady as you are. It is obvious that she really loved her children. Put yourself in her shoes before you use such vile disrespectful language against her, the mother of those children. I really cried when I saw this story on the news because I feel so sorry for those babies who lost their precious little lives and for the mother who made a really bad decision. Please just be human for a minute, can't you see was really desperate? Besides, are any of you certified clinical psychologist? If you take a moment and educate yourselves in a Psychology course at your community college for a small sum, maybe you would have more compassion for another person's humanity. Under extreeme duress and sadness we humans can make some really bad choices. Sometimes we experience such sadness that our minds can not fully grasp what is happening and we have a mental breakdown...thus the bag. Isn't it obvious that she was not in her right mind? Now...just imagine you turn your head for just a moment, and this could happen to anyone of us, and your child drowns in your family pool, or gets hit by a car after running in the street to get a ball, or you put them up on the kitchen counter for a minute and they slip and fall, or worse yet you let them spend the night at a family or friends house that you "know well" and something bad happens to them? Are you not responsible, did you make a bad choice? Yes. Jesus pitied and saved Mary Magdeline, a common prostitue who fell before his feet and admitted her sin; against the advice of the rich Hypocrites who also were not worthy to kiss his feet. For those of you using such vile language against this woman, how do you think he would feel about you? Furthermore, what do you think her babies, who loved their mother, would think about you?
July 31, 2007 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KK007 (anonymous) says...
murder plain and simple . she should get the death penalty
August 1, 2007 at 12:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Thanks, porkbreath........but like other unexpectantly single parents, I just took care of the children my God entrusted me with. What else could or would I do?
August 1, 2007 at 12:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
I wonder if the people that are justifying what happened to these two precious children would feel the same way if this woman was babysitting their kids and did this to them? I guarantee you they would be singing a different tune. One person on here even blamed the govt!! I am speechless!
There is NO WAY to justify the killing of two innocent children!! How the hell can you sit at work all day knowing that your children are suffering a slow horrible death in the parking lot? You don't even walk out to the car to check on them? You don't crack the window? (I wrote that part for the two or three insane people on this forum that find it ok to leave your kids in the car while you go to work).
For the people that are justifying this, if you have children, give up your parental rights now so that your children will be safe before you make a "huge mistake" and blame the government and everyone else! Absolutely incredible!!!
August 1, 2007 at 2 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
retrohanson (anonymous) says...
I am a single mother of a 20 month old and I'm appalled at how ignorant this woman is! NO job is worth leaving my precious baby in a hot car.. not to mention disposing of their innocent little bodies in a garbage bag like they mean nothing. I hope she gets everything she deserves. Don't even tell me she LOVED her children and then shoved them in trash bags. Please.
August 1, 2007 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_CUTE_T (anonymous) says...
You know just like a lot of you I was very angered at this tragic event. I will go as far as to say I was outraged, but then after I calmed down from crying and my 3 year old asked me what was wrong I just simply replied that it just hurts me to see children hurt! I hugged her and told her I loved her.
I cant imagine what this young woman was going through, I wont even begin to try and figure it out, but I do know that what I had to do with the situation was give it to God.
So many people including myself, in the beginning, started right off the bat at judging her. She did make a huge mistake, one that she will have to live with for the rest of life. Yes she did take her beautiful children life, but I am comforted in knowing that they are in heaven and they are little angels set to watch over people in the world. No doubt they still love their mommy.
Yes she should have called into work, but she didn't and there are a lot of questions left unanswered to the world, but where were we when she needed a hand!!!!!!!
Tragedies like this should bring people and the world together and it is sad to say but a lot of people who put comments on this site are just going to forget that this ever happened in a couple, weeks maybe even months. We need to ban together, never forget, ALWAYS remember, and go out and make a difference in a single mothers life and her childrens life!!!!!
I am not condoning what she did by no means i am just as upset about this as you are, but lets pray about the situation and GIVE IT TO GOD!!!!! He is in Control
August 1, 2007 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mom_rene (anonymous) says...
Put HER in a hot car and let her see how her children suffered. If she goes to jail, then sterilize her so she won't have a chance to abuse anymore children.
August 7, 2007 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sabrina357 (anonymous) says...
I agree that what see did was unexcusable . However, we should look at the fact that she was trying to keep a job and a roof over her children's head. She was not on government assistnace of any kind , she was trying to do it own her own. Call me crazy but it seems as though minorities get the short end of the stick in these case. Fro example a woman get jail time because her child get her perscription meds and over dose . Understand that medication ar supposed to be child proof but I beleiv they are adult proof ( african american) . Second instance, a caucasian woman wakes up to find her child dead floating in her pool. Why is she just waking at 12noon to find her child dead, what person sleeps to 12noon while have a todler, again I am not racist but just making a point.
August 29, 2007 at 9:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sabrina357 (anonymous) says...
I agree that what she did was unexcusable . However, we should look at the fact that she was trying to keep a job and a roof over her children's head. She was not on government assistance of any kind , she was trying to do it own her own. Call me crazy but it seems as though minorities get the short end of the stick in these case. For example a woman gets jail time because her child got her perscription meds and over dose . Understand that medications are supposed to be child proof but I beleive they are adult proof( african american)Heck I can not get them open . Second instance, a caucasian woman wakes up to find her child dead floating in her pool. Why is she just waking at 12noon to find her child dead, what person sleeps to 12noon while having a todler, again I am not racist but just making a point.
August 29, 2007 at 9:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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