State Pays Family To Let Disabled Daughter Rot to Death

State Pays Family To Let Disabled Daughter Rot to Death

It is the absolute worst case of child neglect I have seen in my 15 and a half years as coroner of Cherokee County. In the United States, 70% of disabled people are exposed to violence. This is alarming and shows just how easily their mistreatment can go unnoticed. Now, consider today’s story of a girl who had no ability to speak or advocate for herself, while her brother—who was being paid by the state to take care of her—was actively allowing her to die. Her parents, the ones who should have had her best interests in mind, were keeping her from her extended family and treating her like an inconvenience.

Heather Leanne Bayard was born on June 6, 2007, to parents David Eugene and Bobby Joe Bayard. She had a brother named Edward who was about 6 years older than her. Known fondly by the nicknames Princess, Feather, We-Anne, or Kudzu Girl, she was described by her family as the “rainbow pegasus you never saw coming.” Heather liked to travel and to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle of things. She loved pretty lights, colors, and watching Disney Jr. She enjoyed music, especially the work of comedian and musical satirist Mikey Mason.

Defying the odds since birth, Heather deeply touched the lives of all who came across her path. When she was born, the doctors told her parents that she likely would not survive. Heather had suffered a stroke in utero and was born premature at 28 weeks, but she pulled through. However, she had many health complications: she had cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, and epilepsy, and regularly suffered from seizures. She was on oxygen and used a wheelchair to get around; she also had a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. According to reports, she had the brain development of a 3-month-old.

At first, doctors thought that Heather could be blind and deaf, but they eventually found this was not the case. A big assumption people make when they see a person in a wheelchair is that they cannot see, hear, or understand what is going on. But this is very much not the case; just because they cannot talk to you does not mean they are unable to perceive the world around them. Unfortunately, it is likely that Heather would have been treated this way by those who did not know her. Because of this, Heather’s family said she treasured those who took the time to talk to her and was especially close with her father and brother. At the time of our story, Heather was 14 years old and living with her family in Gaffney, known as the Peach Capital of South Carolina.

In 2018, the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent her and her family to both Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Heather’s brother, Edward—who was a registered respite nurse and certified personal care assistant—was tasked with taking care of her needs daily. Now, as we mentioned previously, Heather had cerebral palsy, and I think it is important to provide background on the condition for those unfamiliar. There are several different forms of cerebral palsy, and Heather had the most serious kind, which is referred to as spastic quadriplegia. Spastic quadriplegia is caused by brain damage that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. There can be multiple factors that cause brain damage, but some of the most common are lack of oxygen during labor and delivery and infections during pregnancy.

In some cases, the death of a twin in utero can be a cause. For a twin that dies in utero, the surviving twin’s risk for cerebral palsy is increased considerably. In Heather’s case, it was caused by the stroke that she suffered in utero and the subsequent premature delivery. Individuals with spastic quadriplegia have difficulty with fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and overall movement coordination. It impacts all four limbs, making it difficult to move and manipulate objects. This condition often comes with other developmental challenges such as intellectual disabilities, seizure disorders, and vision or hearing problems, many of which Heather struggled with. We bring all of this up not only to explain for those who are unfamiliar, but to shine a light on just how much she relied on Edward as her caregiver and the extent to which he was responsible for what we are about to share later.

Edward had been employed through Access Homecare and made in excess of $25,000 over the course of 18 months in that role. This was an entry-level position that one could obtain after 10 hours of training, both online and in person. Except Edward was not doing his job, and no one from Access Homecare was checking in on Heather due to the 2020 lockdowns. In fact, in the last years of her life, the Bayard family canceled all of Heather’s doctor’s appointments. They also stopped letting her extended family see her due to alleged pandemic-related fears—or so they claimed. On April 11, 2022, David and Bobby Joe Bayard brought Heather to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

The 14-year-old Heather was described as listless and unresponsive, and her skin was gray and cold to the touch. According to observers, David was carrying his daughter “like a sack of potatoes,” and neither parent showed any bit of urgency to emergency room staff. It was noted that once she was finally in the care of medical professionals, David apparently sat in the waiting room scrolling on his phone, seemingly annoyed, and overall gave off an attitude to bystanders of being massively inconvenienced by having to bring his dying daughter to the hospital. Sadly, there was not anything that doctors could do for Heather. Although efforts were made to revive her, it was pretty clear to everyone that she had already been dead for some time. To the hospital staff that worked on her, they had never seen anyone in such horrid shape. In fact, some were recorded as saying that it would have been better if Heather had been killed swiftly instead of enduring such terrible, long-lasting suffering.

At autopsy, it was reported that Heather’s body showed extreme signs of disintegration. Underneath a blood-soaked beanie were just patches of matted hair. Her teeth were rotted, and her ears were packed thick with wax. Heather was covered in cuts, bruises, and bite marks from insects and rodents alike. She had been left stewing in her own waste for so long that she developed an extreme form of diaper rash. Her legs were described as looking like raw hamburger or like she had been dipped into a vat of acid. When her lungs were examined, they were full of pus due to pneumonia that had gone untreated for a prolonged period of time. She was also so constipated that the contents of her bowels had solidified. 14-year-old Heather Bayard had essentially rotted to death from the inside out due to lack of oxygen, pressure ulcers, rampant infection, and improper hygiene.

According to Coroner Dennis Fowler, “It was very clear and obvious to me once I began my examination of this handicapped child that there had been severe neglect from the caregivers.” He said it was the absolute worst case of child neglect he had ever seen and that the teenager had been neglected for many, many months. He would later go on to testify that it was clear that Heather’s needs had been neglected for at least a full year. When asked what happened to Heather, Bobby Joe told the hospital staff that she noticed that her daughter’s oxygen levels got down to 30%, so she put her in a bathtub in an attempt to stimulate her. For reference, a normal oxygen level is between 95% to 100%. If you have ever had your doctor clip a pulse oximeter to your finger during an exam, that is what it is measuring. Anything under 90% would be considered hypoxemia, or a low level of oxygen. Now, hypoxemia is not an illness or a condition; it is simply a problem tied to breathing or blood flow. Heather did not need to be dunked in cold water because, remember, she had a tracheostomy. If any of this was even true, which it probably was not, all Bobby Joe needed to do was turn her oxygen up. Putting her in a bathtub would do absolutely nothing for her.

Local authorities obtained a search warrant and swarmed the Bayard home on Camp Ferry Road the following day, looking for any clues as to what might have caused Heather’s injuries. What they found was a “house of horrors” that shocked their minds and senses. Authorities found 40 flea-infested animals living inside the home and a noxious smell that was enough to make the paint peel off the walls. Donning respirators and safety suits, the responding officers waded their way in through the horde, which was piled high with trash, infested with flies, maggots, cockroaches, and rodents that were the size of small dogs. There was not a single space that did not have junk piled up feet high. This included the filthy crib in which Heather was forced to live.

According to Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller, the dogs in the home contributed to the deplorable conditions: “A lot of feces in the home, both from the cats and the dogs, urine which created a huge ammonia-type smell.” In May of 2022, 55-year-old David, 44-year-old Bobby Joe, and 21-year-old Edward were arrested and charged with Heather’s murder. They were also charged on counts of child neglect and animal abuse. All of the 40 animals recovered from the Bayard home were infested with fleas and worms and were severely malnourished. Two puppies that were discovered in the horde had to be euthanized due to their condition. And sadly, one was found already dead inside the home. According to one source, the dead dog was found inside of Heather’s crib.

In the wake of the arrests, extended family and friends spoke with News4 about Heather. The child’s aunt, Rebecca, remembers when she got the news of her passing: “I just remember being shocked. Just the state of confusion. I didn’t understand.” The family has requested that we not show their faces, but they want people to know about that child, Heather Bayard. Amy, a close family friend, says she was a fighter: “But Heather has been a miracle since the day she was born.” Amy says Heather Bayard had a stroke in utero as well as a premature birth, which led to a lifetime of complications which caused severe cerebral palsy, and she did not see well. “There were years that we thought or didn’t know if she could hear at all or if she could see at all, and then we found out she could.”

Amy says the doctors did not think Heather would make it, but she defied all the odds against her after countless surgeries as the years went on, “seeing her stimulation from things like lights and sounds from around her. So that is how we just always communicated with her—was, you know, enjoying those moments of when she actually responded to things.” Another aunt, Jessica, says a few years ago she had emergency custody of Heather for a while and, following that, she seemed healthy. But within the last few years, they were told by the Bayards they were not allowed to see Heather due to her, quote, “being high risk for COVID.” They would bring her to the birthday parties and for our other nieces and nephews, while you are singing happy birthday, she would just grin and look around. Jessica says, “In a way, Heather provided inspiration and motivation to fight during her own battles in life. But knowing that my niece was a fighter and that she fought through it all, it gives you your own reason to go, because if she can, why can’t you?”

In August of 2023, Heather’s aunts, Rebecca and Jessica Melton, filed a lawsuit against the three state-run agencies for not doing their part to prevent their niece’s death. The new lawsuit says the state of South Carolina could and should have taken action to save Heather Bayard. Filed by Heather’s two aunts, it says three state-run departments failed their niece: The Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the lawsuit, DSS took Heather into emergency protective custody twice before her death: once when she was a baby and again in 2016 when the family home was infested with roaches. The lawsuit says DSS was supposed to do weekly visits for the next 3 years, but during that time, Heather was hospitalized for pneumonia and sepsis.

In 2020, DDSN and HHS got involved, offering Heather Medicaid services. The aunts say they dropped the ball, too. Their service providers were supposed to conduct in-person visits at least once every six months, but they failed to. Meanwhile, conditions at the Bayard home got worse, to the point that investigators had to wear special protective gear that our cameras captured at the scene back in 2022. “Waking up and being in that environment every single morning… it is to me, it is unfathomable.” In this photo, Heather sits in a high chair. And in this one, that same high chair is seen encased in filth. The lawsuit says as a result of being exposed to such horrible conditions, Heather suffered and her condition progressively deteriorated to the point that she became completely unresponsive on April 11, 2022.

The 4-day trial began on October 28, 2024, and was presided over by Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly. All three of the Bayards were prosecuted by Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry J. Barnett and Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Jordan. Solicitor Barnett told the court that nobody in this world, especially a child with special needs, should have to go through anything like this: “It was horrible. Heather was left to rot to death.” He continued, gesturing to the Bayard family, “The suffering that she went through, not for a minute, not for an hour, not for a day, but for weeks. Ladies and gentlemen, if that is not malice, I don’t know what is. And to have that little girl in that situation where she cannot escape, she is totally dependent on them.”

On October 31, 2024, David and Bobby Joe Bayard were found guilty on all counts. They were sentenced to life in prison for murder, 20 years for infliction of great bodily injury to a child, and 10 years for unlawful child neglect, all of which were to be served consecutively. Edward Bayard, who was supposed to be caring for his sister, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder, as well as the aforementioned sentences that both his parents received on the lesser charges. Edward’s sentences were to be run concurrently. The Bayard family has managed to keep busy while in prison and have seemingly kept their noses clean. David is currently serving his sentence at the McCormick Correctional Institution, where he has held the positions of warder and commissary operations helper. Bobby Joe is serving her sentence at the Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood County, where she is a ward keeper’s assistant. Edward is serving his sentence at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, where, much like his parents, he is a ward keeper’s assistant.

Heather’s story reminds us of another case that we discussed back in May of 2022, and that was the case of Lacey Ellen Fletcher. We will be sure to link our coverage of her case in the pinned comment and description for you, and we will provide you with a quick recap in case you are unfamiliar with her story. Lacey was a 36-year-old autistic woman from Slaughter, Louisiana, who was living with her parents, Clay and Sheila Fletcher. Born on November 25, 1985, Lacey was bullied in school and was subsequently withdrawn and homeschooled. The Fletchers were known to complain about their daughter, stating that they had not wanted to become caregivers when they became parents. On January 3, 2022, Clay and Sheila called 911 to report that they had found their daughter, Lacey, dead on their couch. And that was the understatement of the year.

According to reports, Lacey’s cognitive health began to decline, which led to her not being able to leave the house by the time she was 24 years old. But instead of seeking medical care for their adult daughter, Clay and Sheila left Lacey on their brown leather couch, and that is where she remained for the next 12 years. The Fletcher household was very neat and well-kept, all aside from the couch that would become Lacey’s prison. Instead of taking her to the bathroom, Clay and Sheila would just have Lacey soil herself. Afterwards, they would attempt to clean her with towels. It was all very strange, as a small gray commode and wipes would later be located next to the couch. As Lacey could not eat properly, her body began to waste away; her muscles atrophied and her filthy clothing hung from her body. When Clay and Sheila wanted to go on vacation, they would simply leave Lacey alone on the couch for days at a time with nobody to look after her.

Soon, the area would become infested with vermin such as mice, rats, flies, and maggots. There were signs that Lacey had attempted to lift herself from the couch to avoid the pain she was suffering, but her body just could not handle it. There were also signs that she had attempted to consume her own bodily waste. When first responders arrived at Clay and Sheila’s home, they did not just find Lacey dead on the couch; Lacey had become fused to the couch and had essentially melted through it. Coroner Dr. Ewell Bickham was called to the scene after a horrified sheriff’s deputy reported back with their findings. The scene within the living room was so gruesome that even Dr. Bickham, a seasoned coroner, was severely affected by the state that he found Lacey in. He has been quoted as saying that he could not eat and had crying fits for a full week straight.

According to the coroner, Lacey was found partially clothed in an ill-fitting blue checkered top. She was sitting cross-legged, the way most folks do when they want to get comfortable. Her top lip was curled upward, exposing her teeth. She was infested with insects, covered with insect bites, and her hair had become knotted and matted. Lacey was completely covered from head to toe in her own filth. While paramedics declared that Lacey died at the scene, Dr. Bickham determined she had died 24 to 48 hours earlier due to the state of decomposition. However, due to the condition of her body, it was difficult to tell. Her backside was so black and deformed that you could barely discern what it was. Autopsy reports indicated that Lacey’s cause of death stemmed from severe medical neglect. This led to chronic malnutrition, acute starvation, immobility, acute ulcer formation, osteomyelitis—which is a bone infection—and finally resulted in sepsis. She was also reportedly suffering from bacterial infections and tested positive for a virus. She weighed 96 pounds at her time of death, and evidence led investigators to believe that Lacey had been on the couch for at least 12 years. Lacey’s death was officially ruled as a homicide due to severe neglect.

Citizens of Slaughter were shocked when word got out about what had happened in their small town and who had committed the crime. After all, Clay and Sheila Fletcher did not seem like the type of folks that had it in them to put their daughter through such a hellish existence. Sheila was a court clerk in the nearby city of Baker and, more recently, an assistant to the city prosecutor in Zachary. She was also on Slaughter’s Board of Aldermen and directly served the mayor. Clay Fletcher was an officer of a nonprofit called Baton Rouge Civil War Roundtable. But the biggest shocker of all was the fact that most of the residents of Slaughter had no idea that Clay and Sheila even had a daughter.

On May 2, 2022, hundreds of graphic images of Lacey and the scene of her death were shown to a grand jury in nearby Clinton, Louisiana, during a closed-door hearing that the press were not allowed to attend. The violent photos convinced the 12-member committee to charge Sheila and Clay Fletcher with second-degree homicide, which carried a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The two were arrested and released after 36 hours on $300,000 bond each. In February of 2024, Clay and Sheila Fletcher entered a no-contest plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. They were sentenced on March 20 of the same year to 40 years each in prison, with 20 years suspended and 5 years supervised probation.

We bring Lacey’s case up not only to provide an update, but to highlight that it is not just small children that manage to fall through the cracks. Disabled people have a 50% increased risk of violence compared to those without disabilities because of their need for continuous support, inability to defend themselves, and reduced communication abilities. According to a national survey in the United States, 70% of disabled people have been exposed to violence and 90% have been mistreated on multiple occasions.

Lacey’s funeral was held on January 11, 2022, at Baker Funeral Home in Baker, Louisiana. She was laid to rest beneath a simple headstone at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, also in Baker. Heather’s funeral was held on April 24, 2022, at the Harris-Nutto Mortuary and Chapel in Chesnee, South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, mourners were asked to make donations in Heather’s name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to plant a flower garden, or to simply go on an adventure down an unknown road.