KEY POINTS

  • The incident took place in South Carolina
  • Heather Baynard died on April 11
  • Deputies found severely malnourished animals also in their house

A 14-year-old girl with a severe disability, who allegedly lived in deplorable conditions at her home in South Carolina, died in April after months of extreme neglect.

Now, the teen's parents and brother are facing charges, including murder and child abuse, in connection to her death.

The victim, identified as Heather Baynard from Gaffney, who had cerebral palsy, died on April 11 at a hospital. An autopsy report later revealed the girl had been neglected "for many, many months," Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said, as reported by WYFF4.

Heather's parents, 53-year-old David Baynard and 42-year-old Bobbie Jo Baynard were charged with murder in May, and now face additional charges of child abuse, unlawful neglect of a child, or helpless person by a legal custodian.

The police re-arrested Heather's parents Monday, and took her brother Edward Vincent Baynard, 20, also into custody.

Edward, a registered respite nurse, was assigned as a certified personal care assistant to look after the girl. He now faces multiple charges including murder, child abuse, unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person by a legal custodian, and ill-treatment or torture of animals.

Edward faces murder charges for neglecting the "medically fragile" child and for showing "depraved indifference to human life resulting in death," according to the arrest warrant. Investigation revealed the child had missed numerous doctor's appointments.

Heather was kept in "deplorable conditions, specifically filled with garbage, infested with roaches, and covered in animal urine and feces, including the crib in which [she] lived."

Following the girl's death, the deputies searched the residence, and found severely malnourished animals, including three dead dogs. More than 40 animals were rescued from the site. However, two puppies could not be saved and had to be euthanized,

"It was a pretty bad situation. And it was difficult to get the animals. It took several hours. They were dehydrated. Fearful. Hungry. And some definitely needed medical attention," Cherokee County Humane Society Treasurer Beth Osment said, Law & Crime reported.

The trio is being held without bond in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

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