South Carolina’s Spartanburg County police have charged 35-year-old Taylor Gosnell with two counts of attempted murder. She is accused of attacking two children, aged 6 and 3, in their home. The children were discovered on Saturday, with the assaults believed to have occurred from the previous evening into the early hours.
According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, on September 26, the 6-year-old boy called his grandmother, mentioning that his mother wasn’t home, and that he and his 3-year-old sibling were hungry.
The grandmother then contacted a friend of Gosnell, and they both rushed to the residence. Upon arrival, they found both children severely injured and immediately dialed 911 for help.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after 2:30 p.m. and found the house in disarray, with numerous items damaged or shattered.
Investigators revealed that the children had approximately 50 stab wounds, some of which were deep enough to reach the bone. They are currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital and are expected to undergo further surgeries. The 6-year-old might require an amputation of the arm.
The arrest warrant states that Gosnell allegedly used a baseball bat and a circular bladed instrument to beat and stab the children with the intention of causing fatal harm, inflicting severe injuries.
As officers were still present at the scene, Gosnell returned home. Due to observing her abnormal behavior, she was taken to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for mental and physical evaluation.
Police mentioned that prior to being transported to the hospital, Gosnell attempted to flee from the ambulance but was eventually restrained. Shortly after, she passed the medical evaluation and was discharged.
Gosnell was held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center before midnight on September 26. Her bail request was denied.
Authorities stated that the two children are currently under proper protection and are continuing to receive treatment at the hospital. The motive behind the mother’s alleged criminal actions is still under investigation.