A man charged in the deaths of two young children got an earful from the judge, but not because of what he was charged with.

Police say Matthew Deans caused the crash near Wilmington that killed 2-year-old Dobbs Eddings and his newborn brother, Reed.
        
Deans appeared briefly in court Thursday.

The judge chastised Deans for wearing casual clothes, including a fishing-type shirt and shorts, WSOC-TV reported.

"Why are you going to show up to court dressed like that based on these charges?" the judge said.

A GoFundMe account set up for the children's parents, Gentry and Hadley Eddings, has raised more than $200,000.

The family has seen an outpouring of support from the community.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez