SC Mom Taylor Gosnell, 35, Charged With 2 Counts of Attempted Murder After Her 2 Young Children Are Found Injured — What Her 6-Year-Old Told His Grandmother

A South Carolina mother is facing two counts of attempted murder after her two young children were found seriously injured inside their home. The investigation began with a welfare check — but what prompted that call was a brief message from the family's six-year-old.

Taylor Gosnell, 35, was arrested after deputies responded to a home on the 1400 block of Bud Arthur Bridge Road in Spartanburg County shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 26.

According to FOX Carolina, deputies were responding to a welfare check involving Gosnell's two children, ages 6 and 3. When they arrived, the children were found unattended with injuries that appeared to have been caused by a knife.

Both were taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment and further evaluation. Investigators later determined that the children had allegedly been attacked during the overnight hours before authorities were alerted.

The Children Suffered Severe Injuries

The children's condition was more serious than the initial report suggested. During Gosnell's bond hearing, a spokesperson for the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office described the children as having extensive injuries, according to WAGM-TV.

Prosecutors alleged that some of the lacerations were extremely severe and very deep, according to PEOPLE. The 6-year-old suffered particularly serious injuries to an arm, with prosecutors saying he could potentially require the amputation of fingers and possibly the arm itself.

Fox News reported that investigators said the two children sustained roughly 50 injuries combined, including injuries that penetrated to the bone. Both children were later transferred to Prisma Health Children's Hospital in Greenville for further treatment and were expected to recover.

Investigators Say a Knife and Blunt Object Were Used

As the investigation progressed, authorities alleged that Gosnell attacked both children with a knife and a blunt object. Arrest warrants reviewed by Fox News allege that Gosnell struck the children with a baseball bat and a circular knife, causing their injuries with the intent to kill them.

The sheriff's office said the alleged attack happened during the night before deputies were called to the home. The residence itself also contained evidence of extensive damage.

The House Had Signs of a Violent Confrontation

Deputies found the home in disarray, with numerous objects damaged or broken. Several televisions and mirrors had been shattered, according to FOX Carolina and WJCL.

Authorities have not provided a complete public account of how the damage occurred, but the condition of the residence formed part of the scene investigators encountered when they arrived.

And while deputies were piecing together what had happened, the circumstances that brought them there pointed to an even younger witness.

The Six-Year-Old's Message Brought Help to the House

Before deputies arrived, the 6-year-old had contacted his grandmother. According to Fox News, the child told her that his mother was not home and that he and his younger sibling were hungry.

According to Lt. Graham McLellan of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, the six-year-old said, "Hey, mom's not home. We're hungry, can you come over here."

The grandmother then contacted a friend of Gosnell, and the two went to the residence before calling 911 after finding the children seriously injured. Those words set the welfare check in motion and ultimately led authorities to the children.

Gosnell Returned While Deputies Were at the Scene

Gosnell later returned to the home while deputies were still there. Authorities became concerned about her behavior and arranged for her to be taken to a hospital for an evaluation. According to WJCL, she was speaking rapidly, appeared distressed, and reported experiencing visions.

During the ambulance ride, prosecutors said Gosnell attempted to flee. She was restrained and, according to WJCL, eventually handcuffed to a stretcher. Fox News reported that she was medically cleared and released from the hospital shortly afterward.

Investigators attempted to interview her, but no interview was conducted after she requested an attorney.

A Psychotherapist Explained What Psychosis Can Look Like

The circumstances surrounding Gosnell's reported behavior prompted WYFF to speak with a licensed psychotherapist about how a mental health episode can sometimes be associated with violent behavior.

The expert stressed that "Most people experiencing psychosis are never violent. But when violence does happen, it's usually because the person believes something terrifying is real," the psychotherapist said. "And in their minds, they're protecting themselves or the people they love."

The comments were offered as general context about psychosis and violence, rather than as an assessment of Gosnell's mental state or a determination about what caused the alleged attack.

Social Media Posts Were Also Examined

WYFF also reported that it matched a Facebook profile to Gosnell that contained concerning posts in the hours leading up to the alleged attack. According to the report, Gosnell wrote that she was hearing voices.

The report explained that during psychosis, a person can lose the ability to distinguish what is real from what is not, but it did not establish that this was the cause of the alleged attack in this case.

Gosnell Was Denied Bond

Gosnell was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Facility shortly before midnight on Sept. 26. She was charged with two counts of attempted murder and denied bond.

Investigators later obtained two additional warrants charging her with possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The children were placed in protective custody and remained hospitalized as the investigation continued.

The Arrest Came While Another Case Was Pending

The latest allegations were not Gosnell's first criminal case involving children. According to the State, she was already out on bond from a February 2024 arrest when she was taken into custody in this case.

Court records show she had been charged with two counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk of or causing harm to a child or willfully abandoning the child. Her bond was set at $5,000 for each charge, and those cases remained pending.

Neighbors Were Shocked by What Happened

People living near Gosnell said they were stunned by the allegations. One neighbor told FOX Carolina that she and her son spent much of their time outside during the summer and said they had never noticed anything unusual.

"Me and my son, we spent just about every day outside. We'd be outside for a good six hours out of the day in the summertime. And you never seen, you never heard anything. Never."

Another neighbor said the community was focused on the children. "It's devastating. It's really sad. I'm really heartbroken that that happened. I'm really glad they're doing okay. I hear that the kids are recovering, so I'm really glad for that. I've been praying for them and praying for that situation."

A third neighbor also expressed concern for the children. "We're devastated that that went on over there, and these babies got hurt, and we're praying for them."

What Happens Next

Gosnell remains in custody without bond as the investigation continues. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 12, according to public records cited by PEOPLE.

If convicted on both attempted-murder charges, she could face a combined maximum sentence of 60 years in prison, according to WJCL and PEOPLE. The two children are expected to survive, while authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.