A family in South Carolina has been sentenced for the abuse, neglect, and murder of a girl with a disability. On April 11, 2022, Heather Baynard, a 14-year-old child who had cerebral palsy, died after her father took her to the hospital.
Although the teen’s father, David Eugene Baynard, 55, did take her to the hospital that day, he reportedly “carried (her) like a sack of potatoes,” according to WYFF.
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Heather Baynard's parents didn't show emotion while their daughter was in the hospital.
When David took his daughter to the hospital, her body was gray and cold, WYFF reported. Despite the condition Heather Baynard was in, her father didn’t seem to display any emotions. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get medical treatment for his daughter, either.
The teen’s tissue was breaking down when her parents took her to the hospital. A person who saw Heather Baynard at the hospital said her legs resembled raw meat, the news outlet reported.
Living in terrible conditions at home contributed to Heather Baynard's death.
Through their investigation, authorities discovered the horrible conditions in the family’s home that contributed to the girl’s death. Per Local 12, the home was full of animal feces and urine, which caused Heather Baynard’s skin and tissue to break down. The family’s house was also covered in trash and insects.
Additionally, more than 40 animals lived in the home, leading to “a lot of feces in the home,” reported WSPA. One of the animals in the home was found dead, and two others had to be euthanized, according to the news outlet.
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Heather Baynard's older brother worked as her personal care aide.
Edward Vincent Baynard, 21, was employed by Axcess Home Care as the teen girl’s personal care aide, WSPA reported. Though he received more than $25,000 over 18 months to take care of his sister, according to WYFF, Heather Baynard’s daily medical care needs were likely neglected for more than a year.
When Heather Baynard’s father took her to the hospital, her body showed “extreme signs of disintegration,” said Barry J. Barnette, the 7th Circuit solicitor, per WSPA.
Her parents were sentenced to life in prison for murder.
The trial for Heather Baynard’s family members lasted for four days in Gaffney, South Carolina. On October 31, 2024, the teen’s parents, Bobbie Jo and David Baynard, were sentenced “to life in prison for murder, 20 years in prison for infliction of great bodily injury upon a child, and 10 years in prison for unlawful neglect of a child,” according to WYFF. Their sentences will run consecutively.
Jurors also found Heather Baynard's brother guilty.
Edward Vincent Baynard was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder, 20 years in prison for infliction of great bodily injury upon a child, and 10 years in prison for unlawful neglect of a child. His prison sentences will be served concurrently, WYFF reported.
