A South Carolina boy’s call to his grandmother saying he and his younger sibling were hungry led authorities to a home where investigators say their mother had stabbed both children dozens of times, leaving them with severe injuries.
Taylor Gosnell, 35, faces two counts of attempted murder after authorities say she attacked her children, ages 6 and 3, inside their Spartanburg County home during the overnight hours before they were found Saturday.
The 6-year-old called his grandmother on Sept. 26 and said his mother was not home and that he and his 3-year-old sibling were hungry, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Taylor Gosnell, 35, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Spartanburg County, S.C. (Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office)
The grandmother reached out to a friend of Gosnell, and the two went to the residence. They found both children suffering from serious injuries and immediately called 911.
Deputies arrived shortly after 2:30 p.m. and found the home in disarray, with numerous items broken or damaged, authorities said.
Investigators said the children had roughly 50 stab wounds combined, including injuries that reached the bone. Both were initially taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Greenville. They remained hospitalized and were expected to undergo further surgeries.
Taylor Gosnell, 35, was charged with two counts of attempted murder after authorities say she attacked her two young children. The children were hospitalized at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Greenville, S.C. (Google Maps/Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office)
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Arrest warrants reviewed by News Media provide further details about the alleged assault. The warrants say Gosnell struck the children with a baseball bat and a circular knife, inflicting severe injuries with the intent to kill them.
Gosnell returned to the residence while deputies were still at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies took her to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for an evaluation after observing behavior that raised concerns about her immediate safety.
Authorities said Gosnell tried to flee from the ambulance before being transported and had to be restrained. She was medically cleared and released from the hospital a short time later.
Gosnell returned to the home while deputies were still there. (Getty Images, File)
Investigators attempted to question Gosnell, but no interview took place after she requested an attorney, according to the sheriff’s office.
Gosnell was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Facility shortly before midnight on Sept. 26. She was denied bond on both attempted murder charges.
Investigators later secured two additional warrants accusing Gosnell of possessing a weapon during a violent crime. The warrants, also reviewed by News Media, allege that she had the weapons while carrying out the attempted murders.
The children were placed in protective custody and remained hospitalized, authorities said.
The investigation is active and ongoing.