Woman charged after diabetic teen drinks milkshake, causing death

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Shirl Lee Sweeney, 50. (Credit: Al Cannon Detention Center)

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. - A South Carolina woman is accused of allowing a diabetic 17-year-old to drink a milkshake which led to her death.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said Shirl Lee Sweeney, 50, is charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. She was booked into the Charleston County Detention Center.

According to the complaint, the teenager was diagnosed with diabetes in June 2021.

Medical staff made several follow-up appointments for the teenager to receive her insulin, but the teenager canceled or did not show up even after staff urged Sweeney that the teen needed her insulin.

In September 2021, the teenager was admitted into the hospital with high blood pressure. Medical staff said they told Sweeney that the teen taking her insulin was "not optional."

In August 2022, Sweeney said the teenager was vomiting. The next day, Sweeney called 911 and reported the teen was found on the bathroom floor.

Sweeney was heard on the phone with the dispatch saying, "knew she [the teen] shouldn’t of had that milkshake."

The teen was transported to a local hospital with high blood glucose levels and excessive weight loss.

The teen later died. Her cause of death was listed as hyperosmolar ketoacidosis due to diabetes, and her death was listed as a homicide.

Investigators said Sweeney was in charge of the teen's welfare but didn't elaborate on their relationship.

Investigators said Sweeney failed to take the teen to her medical appointments for over a year and failed to administer insulin despite being educated on the procedure. Sweeney told investigators that the teen refused her insulin, but authorities said regardless, Sweeney was responsible for administering it.

Investigators said they charged Sweeney with the teen's death because she placed the teen at a "unreasonable risk of harm, that affected her life, physical health and safety."