RIDGELAND, SC – In a case that shocked the Lowcountry community, a South Carolina mother has been sentenced to half a century in prison after confessing to drowning her young daughter and attempting to take the life of another child in a chilling act of violence inside their home.
Jamie Michele Bradley-Brun, 40, appeared in a Jasper County courtroom Thursday, where she pleaded guilty to murdering her six-year-old daughter and trying to kill her eight-year-old. The harrowing details unveiled in court painted a grim picture of the tragic May 2023 night that ended in the death of Mackay, Bradley-Brun’s youngest daughter.
According to authorities, the events unfolded just after midnight on May 19, 2023. Bradley-Brun called Mackay into the bathroom, instructing her to change out of her clothes—described by police as a “funeral dress”—and get into a bathtub that had been filled with water. She ordered the little girl to kneel. As Mackay resisted, her mother forcefully held her underwater, ultimately drowning her.
Shortly after, Bradley-Brun turned her attention to her eight-year-old daughter, rousing her from sleep and leading her to the same scene. This time, the child managed to struggle fiercely against her mother’s grip. Hearing the commotion, Bradley-Brun’s oldest daughter rushed in, interrupting the attack and preventing another tragedy.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene in response to a desperate 911 call. They found Mackay lifeless, dressed in what prosecutors called her “funeral dress.” The surviving children were quickly removed from the home while deputies took Bradley-Brun into custody.
During court proceedings, prosecutors asserted that the crime was not the result of a sudden mental health episode but rather a deliberate and calculated act. Despite Bradley-Brun’s attempts to explain her actions by pointing to her struggles with alcoholism and blaming others, investigators determined she was fully aware of her conduct that night.
Facing charges of murder and attempted murder, Bradley-Brun entered guilty pleas on both counts. The court sentenced her to 50 years for the murder of Mackay and 30 years for the attempted killing of her older daughter. Both sentences will run concurrently, ensuring she will serve five decades behind bars.
Law enforcement and the community have been left reeling in the wake of the violent crime, with prosecutors emphasizing the premeditated nature of the acts and the lack of any valid justification. Family members did not speak publicly after the sentencing, but records show the children remain in protective care.
The case has unsettled many across Jasper County, prompting renewed discussions about domestic violence and child welfare. For now, the surviving daughters are receiving support as they try to recover from a tragedy that will forever shape their lives.
Investigators concluded their report by noting that nothing could excuse the brutality of what occurred, and justice, though long-awaited, has now been delivered through the court’s ruling.