On May 19, 2023, at approximately 1:25 a.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to a home on Sam Doyle Drive on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Jamie Michele Bradley-Brun, 37, intentionally drowned her 6-year-old daughter, Mackaya Bradley-Brun, in the bathroom of their home, and also attempted to drown her 8-year-old daughter. The 16-year-old daughter was awakened by her 8-year-old sister's screams for help, entered the bathroom and witnessed the attack, then rescued the 8-year-old and brought her to safety at a nearby family residence before calling 911. When deputies arrived, they detained Bradley-Brun, who then attempted to take a deputy's weapon and was tasered. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death was drowning, and Bradley-Brun was charged with murder and attempted murder.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The news article explicitly states: "An autopsy performed by the Beaufort County Coroner's Office on Friday confirmed the 6-year-old's cause of death was drowning." The article headline also reads: "Lowcountry mother arrested for drowning child, attempting to drown another."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states the mother intentionally drowned her 6-year-old daughter and attempted to drown the 8-year-old. The 16-year-old "Entered the bathroom where the screams were coming from and witnessed what she witnessed." Intentional drowning requires the perpetrator to physically submerge and restrain the child, which constitutes inflicted physical harm. While the specific examples in the question (slapped, punched, kicked, etc.) differ from drowning, the act of forcibly drowning a child is an intentional infliction of injury/harm upon the victim.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies the perpetrator as the child's biological mother: "37-year-old Jamie Michele Bradley-Brun has been charged with murder and attempted murder." The article confirms the relationship: "A St. Helena Island mother has been arrested and is accused of drowning a child and attempting to drown another." The child who died is identified as "her 6-year-old daughter, Mackaya Bradley-Brun."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "37-year-old Jamie Michele Bradley-Brun has been charged with murder and attempted murder." It also notes she was arrested: "A St. Helena Island mother has been arrested and is accused of drowning a child and attempting to drown another."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article contains several notable details not directly addressed by other questions. First, the mother attempted to take a deputy's weapon after being detained, leading deputies to use a taser on her: "deputies had to use a taser on Jamie Bradley-Brun after they said she tried to take a deputy's weapon." Second, the 16-year-old daughter's heroic actions are emphasized — she was woken by her 8-year-old sister's screams, rescued the 8-year-old, brought her to safety at a nearby family residence, and called 911. Sheriff Tanner specifically praised her: "My hat's off to the 16-year-old girl, challenged with such an unbelievable incident and in your own home involving your own family members." Third, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Special Victim's Unit-Department of Child Fatalities was involved alongside the sheriff's office in the investigation.
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