GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville County deputies said a mother and her boyfriend have been charged in a 2-day-old baby’s death, which occurred in Nov. 2014.
Deputies said they were called to an address on Harrison Bridge Road in the Simpsonville area on Nov. 19 after the baby girl passed away.
Subsequent tests showed the baby had high levels of methamphetamine in her system, deputies said.
Greenville County coroner Parks Evans identified the baby as Gracie May Fuller. Evans determined the cause of death to be drug intoxication. The manner of death was ruled as a homicide.
The mother, Kelli Noelle Smith-Durham, also tested positive for the drug, deputies said.
Deputies said the boyfriend, and Shane Ray Fuller, and three young children were all living in the house, which deputies said was deplorable, had no power and was being heated by propane canister heaters.
The children, ages 2, 3, and 7, were placed in an alternate caregiver’s custody by DSS.
After a full investigation, deputies said Smith-Durham was charged with murder by child abuse and four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Fuller was also charged with four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Both are being held in the Greenville County Detention Center on a $40,000 bond.
