A 35-year-old South Carolina mother has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after authorities accused her of severely attacking her two young children with a knife and a blunt object.
Taylor Gosnell was arrested after deputies responding to a welfare check found her 3-year-old and 6-year-old children alone inside a home in Spartanburg County, severely injured and covered in blood.
Investigators said the children suffered approximately 50 stab wounds between them during the alleged attack, with some of the injuries reportedly deep enough to reach the bone.
Children Found After Six-Year-Old Called Grandmother
Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home on Bud Arthur Bridge Road at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday after a welfare concern was raised.
According to authorities, the 6-year-old had called his grandmother to say that he and his younger sibling were hungry. The grandmother subsequently went to the residence with Gosnell’s former boyfriend.
They found the two children inside the house with serious injuries and contacted authorities.
The children were initially taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment before being transferred to a children’s hospital in Greenville, according to local reports. Authorities said both remained in stable condition and were expected to recover, although additional surgeries were anticipated.
Six-Year-Old Could Face Possible Amputation
The injuries suffered by the older child were described as particularly severe.
Prosecutors said during a bond hearing that some of the lacerations were so deep that they reached the bone. The 6-year-old could reportedly require amputation of some fingers and possibly an arm because of the extent of the injuries.
The exact medical outcome remains uncertain as doctors continue treating the children.
Both children have reportedly been placed in protective custody while the investigation continues.
Investigators Say Knife and Blunt Object Were Used
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said investigators believe Gosnell attacked the children with a knife and a blunt object during the night before deputies were called to the property.
Authorities also found extensive damage inside the home, including shattered televisions and mirrors, broken glass and other debris.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
Mother Returned as Deputies Investigated
Gosnell reportedly returned to the residence while deputies were already investigating the incident.
Authorities said she appeared distressed and was speaking rapidly. She was taken for a mental health evaluation after deputies became concerned about her condition.
During the process, prosecutors said Gosnell attempted to flee from an ambulance and was subsequently restrained and handcuffed to a stretcher.
Local reporting said she was later medically cleared. Investigators attempted to interview her, but she requested an attorney and no interview was conducted.
Gosnell Denied Bond
Gosnell was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center and faces two counts of attempted murder.
She was also charged with possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to authorities.
A judge denied bond following a hearing, meaning Gosnell remains in custody as the case proceeds.
Authorities have not established publicly that a particular mental-health condition caused the alleged attack. Officials have described the investigation as ongoing, while prosecutors have raised concerns about Gosnell’s behaviour at the scene.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The case has shocked the Spartanburg community as investigators continue examining what happened inside the home before the children were discovered.
The allegations against Gosnell remain matters for the criminal justice process, and the charges do not by themselves establish guilt. Any eventual determination of criminal responsibility will be made through the court proceedings.
The incident adds to a series of disturbing crime cases recently reported by The Bureau Journal, including investigations into violent deaths and alleged criminal conduct.
The Bureau Journal has also reported on cases involving allegations of violent attacks, including the arrest of a suspected cultist over an alleged assault and the arrest of a suspect in the killing of a Kogi APC chairman.
Other recent crime reports include the Kebbi court case involving allegations of kidnapping and assault, the investigation into deaths in custody in Niger State, and an investigation involving children allegedly taken by a co-tenant in Akwa Ibom.
For now, the two children remain under medical care while investigators continue to gather evidence in the case against their mother.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments as authorities and the courts provide further information.
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