Update: 13-year-old’s death a homicide, police say. He suffered hits to head and burns

Law enforcement are investigating the death of a 13-year-old as a homicide, according to the Horry County Coroner’s Office.

Isaiah Gaymes died from blunt force trauma at 1:29 a.m. May 11, 2024, at Medical University of South Carolina, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard in a release Friday.

Two people have been charged in relation to the assault that happened on May 8 in the Longs area, according to an Horry County Police report.

The case is under investigation by Horry County Police and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, according to the release.

Ivy Contrell Jenerette, 40, was charged with murder on Friday, according to an arrest warrant. He was originally charged with abuse to inflict great bodily injury upon a child. Samantha Ann Gaymes, 34, was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. Both remain in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bond.

Jenerette, who lives in the home with the teen, is accused of striking Isaiah Gaymes several times to the side and back of the head with a blunt object, according to an arrest warrant. The teenager also suffered other life-threatening injuries including broken bones, burns and permanent disfigurement to the face and body, the warrant said.

A piece of wood and handgun were found and both tested positive for blood and are consistent with the injury patterns on the victim, the warrant said.

Samantha Gaymes is accused of allowing a pattern of physical abuse on the victim to the point that he received great bodily injury during the recent assault, according to the report.

When officers arrived at the residence on May 8, 2024, EMS crews were placing the victim into the ambulance to transport him to the hospital where he later died.