Coroner: SC boy struggled with mother before death

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina coroner says she has found defensive wounds on a 2-year-old boy whose mother police say smothered him and his brother before strapping them into their car seats and driving them into a river.

Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall told The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg and television stations WIS-TV and WCSC today that Devean C. Duley showed signs he struggled. She says both Devean and 18-month-old Ja’van T. Duley died of suffocation.

Marshall did not detail the wounds and did not return numerous pages and messages left by The Associated Press.

Shaquan Duley was charged with murder after Sheriff Larry Williams says she confessed to deputies she smothered her sons, then drove their bodies into the North Edisto River.