JADED EVIDENCE · INVESTIGATION · WATCH-350

North Charleston infant death: Janette Elizabeth Clayton prosecution

Current legal status: Charged with homicide by child abuse; pending prosecution. Reviewed November 7, 2026.

Case overview

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced November 6 that Janette Elizabeth Clayton, 27, had been charged November 4 with homicide by child abuse in connection with the death of her 11-month-old child in North Charleston. The charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt.

Chronological timeline

July 2026 — child found deceased

Local reporting states the infant was found deceased in a North Charleston apartment; the original incident report and precise date remain to be obtained.

November 4 — SLED charge

SLED charged Clayton with homicide by child abuse while she was detained on related North Charleston Police Department charges.

November 6 — official announcement

SLED publicly announced the charge and identified the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office as prosecuting authority.

Medical-examiner and forensic evidence

Reported autopsy findings

WCSC, citing case documents, reports that the death was attributed to starvation with acute bronchopneumonia due to neglect. The original forensic report and its precise wording have not yet been independently obtained.

Clinical history and alleged omissions

Reporting describes prematurity, sickle cell disease and allegedly missed medically necessary appointments. These are reported case-document allegations, not independently established findings about culpability. Do not infer a causal role for a diagnosis without medical evidence.

Institutional response and unresolved questions

WCSC reports that two North Charleston officers who previously responded to the residence were placed on leave. The reason, administrative findings, prior-call records and any disciplinary outcome require direct confirmation; being placed on leave does not establish misconduct.

Court, counsel and procedural status

Investigative agencies: SLED and North Charleston Police Department. Prosecutor: Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The assigned judge, defense counsel, next court date, and filed warrant require verification.

Prosecution allegations: Homicide by child abuse. Defense: No authenticated defense filing reviewed. Trial: No testimony, ruling, verdict or sentencing established.

Source library and documents

To obtain: SLED arrest warrant attachment, medical-examiner findings, police call logs, detention and court records. Keep child-identifying information limited to what is essential.

All defendants are presumed innocent. Distinguish documented findings, reported warrant allegations and unverified leads.