A harrowing search for a missing two-year-old in Florida concluded tragically when the child's body was discovered inside the mouth of an alligator. The father of Taylen Mosley has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, for both the child and the boy's mother, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffery, who was stabbed to death.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway reported that officers were investigating the area around Dell Holmes Park when they noticed an alligator with "an object in its mouth" in Lake Maggiore. The police fired a round at the alligator, killing it and causing it to release the child's body. It remains unclear how Taylen died or whether he was already dead before ending up in the lake.
"We are sorry that it had to end this way," said Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
Authorities began searching for Taylen at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday after discovering Jeffery dead from "multiple stab wounds" in her apartment, having followed a blood trail from her vehicle. Thomas Mosley, Taylen's father, became a person of interest after he admitted himself to a local hospital with cuts on his hands and arms. Police have not confirmed whether these injuries could have been inflicted by Jeffery in self-defense, but Holloway stated, "nothing in our investigation leads us to believe that he is a victim."
Mosley, who is still hospitalized, checked in without his son. An Amber Alert was issued, and a major volunteer search was launched, fearing the boy was in danger. Officers initially deployed dive teams in nearby retention ponds before moving 14 miles north of Taylen and Jeffery's home, where they ultimately discovered the boy's body.
Family members fondly remembered Taylen and Jeffery in the aftermath of their tragic deaths. "He's always calling his mom on his cell phone," Lakita Denson told WFLA. "He misses his mom; they called each other all the time. She really loved Taylen." Theo Brickhouse-Sails added, "We just want to say that Taylen is a beautiful little boy. He's really loving and caring."