Man Charged In Christmas Eve Death Of Two Toddlers

It was discovered that the children were left home alone at the time of the fire.

An arrest has been made in the tragic death of two toddler’s on Christmas Eve.

Around 6:45pm, crews responded to a house fire on Cedar Ridge Road in the Dovesville area of Darlington County.

They were informed that there were children in the home. Officials were able to locate both of them, remove them from the house and administer care.

Each of the children were taken to a hospital where they both died from their injuries.

The pair were identified as 3-year-old Avery Graham and his 2-year-old sister Sy’Riah Blanchard.

It was discovered that the children were left home alone at the time of the fire.

Matthew Graham Jr. faces charges after the children were left in his care. He is accused of causing the deaths “under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life through fatal neglect.”

Graham was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse. He was released on Tuesday on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 26.