Mother charged with homicide by child abuse in North Charleston infant death

Janette Clayton, 27, was charged with homicide by child abuse on Friday, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The announcement comes in the case of her 11-month-old daughter, Nomai Weathers, who died in a North Charleston apartment earlier this year.

Nomai was found dead on June 17 near the front doorway of the family residence. She was partially wrapped in a blanket and weighed only 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Officials described the apartment as deplorable and infested with cockroaches and flies. No food or child care supplies were found inside the unit.

Court documents state that Nomai was born prematurely and diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The condition required regular, medically necessary appointments. Clayton allegedly failed to take her daughter to these visits. An autopsy determined the cause of death was starvation with acute bronchopneumonia due to neglect. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Clayton was initially charged with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading the investigation and upgraded the charges this week. The new count of homicide by child abuse reflects the final findings from the medical examiner.

The incident also drew scrutiny toward two North Charleston Police Department officers who had previously responded to the apartment. One officer was placed on leave, later fired and charged. The second officer was placed on leave but has since been reinstated to their position.