Parents charged after ‘large rat’ starts eating baby girl, deputies say

According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Akayla and Justin Bearden were charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. (Source: WHNS)

BELTON, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Parents in South Carolina are facing charges after police said their twin babies were found with rat bite marks on their bodies.

According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24, were charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.

Deputies responded to the home in Belton when the mother called 911 on Friday morning to report that her 6-month-old child was covered in blood.

The sheriff’s office said a “large rat started eating the child.”

When they arrived, deputies said they found blood covering the baby girl and her bassinet. They said there were bite marks on the baby’s arms, back of the head, ears and face.

The baby was immediately taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Investigators found that the baby girl has a twin brother, who also had bite marks on his feet.

Deputies said the parents admitted that field rats have been an ongoing issue inside their home for the last several months, but they still allowed their children to live there.

Deputies said the baby girl will remain in the hospital for several days as the case remains under investigation.

The twins, as well as a third child, are now in custody of the Department of Social Services.

The parents are scheduled for a bond hearing Tuesday morning.

Akayla Bearden and Justin Bearden were arrested by deputies on two charges of unlawful conduct toward a child

Lesley Cosme Torres is a writer at PEOPLE covering crime. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2025. Her work has previously appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald and NPR.

Credit : Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (2)

A South Carolina couple, Akayla and Justin Bearden, were arrested after their 6-month-old baby was found with severe rat bites
Authorities allege the couple admitted to knowing about a rat problem in their home
The parents face charges of unlawful conduct toward a child

Authorities have arrested a South Carolina couple after their baby was found with severe rat bites.

Akayla Bearden and Justin Bearden were arrested by deputies on two charges of unlawful conduct toward a child after authorities say “a large rat starting eating” their 6-month-old baby, according to a statement from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a 911 call after Akayla found blood covering her daughter’s bassinet and body and bite marks on the baby’s arms, head, ears and face, per the statement.

The baby was immediately transported to a local hospital. Deputies found another child, a twin of the 6-month-old, with bite marks on his feet, the statement said. Akayla and Justin allegedly admitted to deputies that they knew rats were an ongoing issue inside their home for the last several months, the statement alleges.

All three of their children are in the custody of the department of social services, according to the sheriff’s office. The 6-month-old girl will remain in the hospital for several days as the case is under investigation.

Akayla and Justin were granted bond on May 13, according to FOX Carolina, and banned from having contact with their kids. They are set to go back before a judge on July 31.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.