Stanley Carr is advocating for “Addy’s Law” in South Carolina following the tragic death of his 4-year-old daughter Addison, who had brain damage and relied on a G-tube. Tyler Ternberg, her mother’s boyfriend, faces homicide by child abuse charges after allegedly causing her fatal injuries on December 26, 2024.
Current Law
South Carolina’s homicide by child abuse statute (S.C. Code § 16-3-85) applies to deaths of children under 11 from abuse or neglect showing extreme indifference to life. Convictions carry 20 years to life, but Ternberg received bond after about a month in jail.​
Proposed Changes
Carr and attorney Bruce Wilson seek to reclassify killings of defenseless or incapacitated children as first-degree murder, eligible for life without parole or death. This aims to better fit cases like Addison’s, where the child couldn’t cry out or escape.
Case Status
No court date is set for Ternberg as of early 2026. The effort highlights gaps in protections for vulnerable children beyond standard abuse definitions.
