LIBERTY, SC — A 60-year-old man faces criminal charges after authorities say he failed to help his 86-year-old mother who later died from neglect. Bret Wemett of Bagwell Road remains jailed on charges of Abuse or Neglect Resulting in Death or Harm to a Vulnerable Adult following a months-long investigation into his mother Carolyn Wemett tragic death.
The case began January 11 when deputies responded to the Wemett family property after a concerned relative requested a welfare check. Officers found Carolyn unconscious on the ground in what investigators described as clear medical distress. Shockingly, evidence revealed Bret had discovered his mother in that condition at least 24 hours earlier but neither moved her nor called for emergency assistance.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, Carolyn succumbed to her condition shortly after arrival. The Anderson County Coroner’s Office spent months meticulously analyzing the case, with their forthcoming report expected to detail the specific medical consequences of the delayed care. Detectives emphasized the vulnerable victim’s complete dependence on her son for basic wellbeing.
“This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment – this was a prolonged failure to provide the most fundamental care,” said Anderson County Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Sarah Miller. “When vulnerable adults can’t help themselves, their caregivers have both a moral and legal obligation to act.”
The case has sparked outrage in this rural community of about 3,000 residents, with neighbors expressing disbelief that someone could allegedly ignore their own mother’s suffering. Local senior advocates are using the tragedy to remind residents about South Carolina’s mandatory reporting laws for suspected elder abuse.
Wemett remains held without bond at the Anderson County Detention Center awaiting trial. If convicted of the felony neglect charge, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Court records show no prior criminal history for Wemett, leaving many questioning what led to such alleged negligence.
