Jaysen Carr, a 12-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, died on July 18 after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba, following a weekend of swimming and boating in Lake Murray. Now, his grieving parents are calling for greater public awareness and warning signs to help prevent similar tragedies.
Clarence and Ebony Carr said they had no idea the amoeba, which thrives in warm freshwater, was present in the lake where their son had spent the Fourth of July weekend enjoying outdoor activities. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday alongside their attorney, they urged officials to take action.
“Had we known the risk, he never would have gotten in the water,” Ebony said. “We don’t want his death to be in vain. People need to know that there are real dangers in Lake Murray.”
The amoeba is extremely rare—only 163 cases have been reported in the U.S. from 1962 to 2024—but nearly all infections are fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prisma Health Children’s Hospital confirmed that Jaysen died from the infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which rapidly destroys brain tissue and causes swelling.
Clarence Carr described how his son initially complained of a headache just days after their lake outing. Although over-the-counter medication helped at first, Jaysen’s symptoms worsened the next day when he began vomiting. After being rushed to the hospital, he underwent a spinal tap and was placed on antibiotics—but his condition quickly deteriorated.
“In hindsight, that wasn’t a headache—he was being attacked,” Clarence said. “Jaysen was still responding but became increasingly lethargic.”
Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, noted that Naegleria fowleri is found in most warm freshwater environments in South Carolina and across the Southeast. “Most of us have been exposed, and for the majority, it causes no harm,” she explained. “But in rare cases, it can be deadly.”
The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed the last reported death from the amoeba in the state was in 2016. As temperatures rise, amoeba levels increase while water levels decrease, raising the risk of exposure.
Despite its lethality, the CDC does not recommend routine water testing for Naegleria fowleri, citing the amoeba’s inconsistent presence and the lack of standardized testing methods. “A lack of warning signs does not mean the water is safe,” the state’s environmental department said in a statement.
Dominion Energy, which manages Lake Murray, expressed condolences, calling Jaysen’s death a “tragic loss” and urging the public to follow CDC safety guidance during recreational water activities.
Jaysen was a bright, compassionate child who had skipped a grade in school and played sports, instruments, and was a member of his school’s honor band. “He either loved you or didn’t know who you were,” Clarence said. “That’s who he was.”
Now, his parents want to make sure his story saves lives.
“A child shouldn’t lose their life doing something that feels so normal—just being a kid,” Clarence said. “If more people knew the risks, this could have been prevented.”
