NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Authorities have arrested two people after a harrowing case of elder neglect led to the death of a 76-year-old woman whose untreated wounds became fatal in a North Charleston home, police said.
Kevin Carl Clark, 40, and Victoria Lynn Delaune, 33, were taken into custody Monday and face felony charges of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. The victim, identified as Dianne Clark, was under their care at the time of her death, according to sheriff’s deputies.
Emergency responders were called to a residence on Otranto Road in late July after Dianne Clark was found non-responsive at the scene. Paramedics pronounced her dead upon arrival. Investigators quickly determined there were signs that the elderly woman had been denied even the most basic care for an extended period.
Law enforcement officials detailed disturbing conditions inside the home, including significant unsanitary areas contaminated with bodily fluids and insect infestations. According to a sheriff’s office statement, Dianne Clark was discovered wearing a heavily soiled adult diaper. Investigators noted numerous bed sores and evidence of live maggots in the victim’s wounds.
A later autopsy revealed the extent of the neglect. Medical staff at the Medical University of South Carolina determined that the woman had died from sepsis brought on by osteomyelitis—a severe infection in the bones—after a sizable, untreated pressure ulcer on her lower back led her spinal column to protrude through her skin.
Officials stated that the contamination of the open wound, combined with the overwhelming presence of fecal matter, resulted in the fatal infection. Further inquiry revealed that her caregivers had failed to fill her prescribed medication since September 2024, suggesting she had been without necessary treatment for months before her death.
Forensic examiners concluded that the woman endured prolonged and extreme neglect. Detectives said it was immediately “apparent” that her most fundamental medical and hygiene needs had not been met for some time.
Clark and Delaune are currently being held without bond at Charleston County Jail while the investigation continues. Jail records confirm their initial court appearances are set for December 19.
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office officials emphasize that elder neglect can have devastating—and, as in this case, deadly—outcomes. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about similar cases to come forward.
Authorities report that both suspects were the designated caregivers for Dianne Clark at the time of her death. No additional details about their legal representation or statements from their side have been made public.