Two Children Found Dead In Trash Bags

Tuesday, July 31st 2007, 10:22 am

By: News On 6

HANAHAN, S.C. (AP) _ A woman accused of leaving her two young children in a hot car while she was at work was charged with homicide by child abuse after their bodies were found wrapped in trash bags under an apartment sink, authorities said Tuesday.

Officers investigating a report of a disturbance at the apartment Monday night found Sametta Heyward, 27, crying and yelling, ``'Oh, my babies,''' according to a police report.

A man holding Heyward told officers ``the kids were in trash bags and under the cabinet.'' The police report said Heyward tried to bite and kick the officers, had to be restrained, and was taken to a hospital because medics thought she could be having seizures.

``She stated she wanted to die and asked officers to kill her,'' the report said.

Police Chief Don Wilcox said investigators had not been able to talk to the woman because her attorney advised her not to say anything.

``We're trying to run down the timeline, as well as get any physical evidence, so we can determine exactly what took place,'' Wilcox said.

Investigators found a note Heyward left at her apartment, explaining that she had arranged for a baby sitter, but when plans fell through she took the children with her in the car to work in downtown Charleston, Berkeley County Deputy Coroner George Oliver said. It was not clear what day she was referring to.

``She pretty much laid out the scenario,'' Oliver said of the note. ``Apparently that's her justification for taking the children with her and for leaving them in the car.''

Autopsies were scheduled to determine what killed 1-year-old Triniti Campbell and her 4-year-old brother, Shawn Campbell Jr., Oliver said.

Oliver said officials have not determined where or when the children died. Temperatures have been in the high 80s for a few days.

Her attorney, Andrew Savage, said he met with Heyward shortly before she was released from the hospital on Tuesday and taken to the police station in handcuffs and scrubs.

``She actually couldn't really talk. She knew we were there, but she was grieving,'' Savage said. ``It was really to tell her we were there, supportive of her, and we were going to help her.''

Heyward cried throughout a two-minute initial court appearance Tuesday night, only quietly acknowledging a judge telling her he could not set her bond.

Neighbor Brandon Coving said he saw Heyward and the children on Sunday. ``They were running around, and she had a big smile on her face, and it seemed like a regular day,'' he said.

Hanahan is about 15 miles north of Charleston.