83-Year-Old South Carolina Woman Dies After 1,000 Fire Ant Bites

An 83-year-old American woman with dementia died following an attack by a swarm of fire ants that delivered more than 1,000 painful bites. The incident occurred after she left an unsupervised care facility in South Carolina without oversight.

How the incident unfolded

According to a lawsuit filed by her family against Harmony Senior Services in Charleston, the victim, Shilba Carton, was nonverbal and unable to speak. She exited the building after a staff member left a door open and unmonitored. She sat outdoors, where fire ants gathered and covered her face, scalp, back, and entire body with over 1,000 bites.

Because of her advanced medical condition, she could not call for help. She remained undiscovered for several hours until staff members found her. A worker who contacted emergency services described the situation as catastrophic, stating the ants had fully covered her body and caused severe swelling.

Medical response and outcome

She was transported to a hospital with extensive blisters, acute hypothermia, and pneumonia. She received antibiotic and steroid treatment for eight days before dying.

The family filed a legal complaint accusing the facility’s management of negligence, wrongful death, and violations of elder care laws. They are seeking financial compensation. Her daughter, Jan Boyce, said she felt extreme terror upon learning what had happened. Family attorney Nate Hughey called it “the worst case of elder abuse” he has encountered in his 25-year legal career.

A spokesperson for Harmony Senior Services offered condolences to the family but declined to comment on details of the incident, citing the pending litigation.