A 35-year-old mother, Taylor Gosnell, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing her two young children 50 times in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The attack early on Saturday morning left her six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter severely injured. Authorities stated that the boy faces the possibility of having fingers or a portion of his hand amputated due to the severity of his wounds.
Graham McLellan from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said deputies estimated the children suffered around 50 knife wounds in total. The case was reported by the New York Post.
According to prosecutors, some of the stab wounds were deep enough to reach the bone. Investigators believe the assailant used both a knife and an additional object as an impact weapon during the assault.
Both children were transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Medical staff reported that both victims are in stable condition and are expected to recover from their injuries.
Discovery of the victims
Deputies from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office arrived at the family residence at approximately 2:30 p.m. last Saturday afternoon after receiving a request for a welfare check. A welfare check is a standard response by law enforcement officers when family members or neighbors raise concerns about the safety of individuals inside a home.
The emergency response began after the six-year-old boy managed to phone his grandmother to tell her that he was hungry. Concerned by the call, the grandmother contacted Gosnell's former partner, and the two went to the house before alerting police.
When officers entered the residence, they discovered the three-year-old girl and six-year-old boy alone inside, covered in blood. Investigators found blood pooling in multiple rooms throughout the home.
The interior of the house showed signs of extensive destruction. Televisions and mirrors had been smashed, leaving broken glass and fragmented household objects scattered across the living space.
Arrest and court proceedings
Taylor Gosnell returned to the property a short time after law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. Authorities described her as being in a state of severe mental agitation and noted that she was speaking rapidly.
Emergency personnel placed Gosnell into an ambulance to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. According to the prosecutor's office, she attempted to flee from the vehicle while inside, forcing emergency workers to handcuff her while she was secured to the stretcher.
Following her arrest, a magistrate court denied bail for Gosnell on two counts of attempted murder, ordering her held without bond. Under South Carolina criminal procedure, individuals charged with violent felonies involving severe injury to minors are frequently detained without bail pending grand jury indictment.
Authorities subsequently issued an additional arrest warrant against Gosnell for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Law enforcement officials stated that the investigation into the precise motives and circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing.
Background and regional context
Spartanburg is a city located in Upstate South Carolina, serving as the seat of Spartanburg County. The city lies approximately 90 miles northwest of the state capital, Columbia.
Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where the two children are recovering, is the primary acute-care hospital and regional trauma center serving Spartanburg County and surrounding communities in northwestern South Carolina.
