BERKELEY, S.C. — The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people in connection to an animal case in Moncks Corner.
Philip Daniel Heatley and Courtney Lynn Heatley are charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child and 24 counts of ill treatment of animals.
Authorities say deputies conducted a welfare check after receiving a tip that there may have been a vulnerable elderly adult living at a home on Honey Bee Drive in Moncks Corner.
The woman, in her mid-80s, was contacted and was apparently in no danger.
The woman told deputies she believed there was a dead dog in her shed.
Authorities discovered the carcasses of numerous animals. A dog, ducks, chickens, a goat, a pony, rabbits and several other unidentified animals were also was found throughout the property, according to a news release.
The woman’s grandson Philip Daniel Heatley and Courtney Lynn Heatley and their two minor children, age 8 months and 5-years-old, were found living in deplorable conditions in a small camper on the property.
Both children were taken into emergency protective custody.
In addition to the charges filed by the Sheriff’s Office the Department of Natural Resources also charged Philip Heatley with game violations.