4-Year-Old South Carolina Child's Body Found Stuffed In Dresser, Mother, Boyfriend Charged

A 4-year-old child was found dead in Rock Hill, South Carolina, late Tuesday morning, prompting a death investigation. The child's mother and boyfriend were later arrested in connection to the death.

Police said they arrived at a home on Gentle Breeze Lane Tuesday and found the 4-year-old dead. The child’s mother, 23-year-old Jackleen Elizabeth Mullen, and Mullen’s boyfriend, 26-year-old Audrevious Jarrell Williams, were both charged with homicide by child abuse or neglect.

Mullen appeared in court where her bond was denied by the judge, who also ordered that she can’t have any contact or communication with her two other children while the case is pending.

Officials said that Mullen lied to police and said her child was with family in North Carolina. After police tried to confirm her story they learnt Mullen was not telling the truth. The child, who had special needs, was reportedly found stuffed in a dresser. A police officer said there was no remorse from Mullen when they told her about her child’s death.

According to local media WBTV, Mullen was previously charged in 2016, when the 4-year-old was born, after the infant tested positive for cocaine and benzodiazepines. Local police said at th etime that York County DSS informed them the baby was born premature and tested positive for the drug. Mullen was sentenced to two years of probation at the time.

Representational image of a man in handcuffs.

Representational image of an open handcuff. John Moore/Getty Images

In another recent case, the mother of a 7-year-old child in Columbus, Ohio, was charged with murder after her son was found unresponsive at their home on May 23.

Columbus police responded to a home on the 2400 block of Azelda Street after receiving reports of a drowning. They found the child unresponsive. The deputies initiated life-saving measures to revive the child and he was given CPR. Medics arrived and rushed the boy to Nationwide Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation conducted into the incident revealed that the boy “had been subjected to severe abuse." The child suffered several wounds and lacerations on his body. Police said the abuse led to his death.