Mother of Drowned Children's Trial Begins

The trial of an Easley woman charged with involuntary manslaughter following the drowning deaths of her daughter and son has begun.

Sandy Palm Emery, 38, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of unlawful neglect of a child.

On September 28, 2008, authorities responded to a 911 call concerning a child found in a pool at Emery's residence on Rotterdam Road in Easley.

Upon arrival, responders discovered the body of a second child in the pool.

Carter Landon, 3 and his sister, Lacey Alley Emery, 2, were pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.

Warrants allege that the children left the residence and got into the pool while their mother was asleep.

The Pickens County Coroner's Office and the Pickens County Sheriff's Office investigated initially. Dr. Jim Mahanes, then the county coroner, requested that the State Law Enforcement Division join the investigation.

Warrants allege that Sandy Emery did “place her child, Carter Emery, at an unreasonable risk of harm affecting his safety and life” by being ““derelict in her moral legal duties” toward her children.

The warrants also stated that a back door of the home was ajar and the storm door was not secured. Furniture had been placed in front of the door but “a child could easily climb over it,” the warrant stated.

Jury selection was slated to begin in the trial Monday.

If convicted, Emery faces up to 15 years in prison.