The under-2-year-old reported missing in Florida was found dead in the mouth of an alligator.
St. Petersburg police reported at a press conference last night that Thomas Mosley, father of little Taylen, faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the events.
Police chief Anthony Holloway in St. Petersburg said officers were investigating the Dell Holmes Park area when they spotted the reptile with something in its mouth around Lake Maggiore.
The agents had to shoot the animal so that it would release the “object” that turned out to be the minor. Officers recovered Taylen’s body intact.
“We are sorry that this had to end this way,” Holloway said, as quoted by WESH.
“We did not want to find it this way,” added the police spokesman. “But at least we can now provide closure for that family,” he considered.
The body of the boy’s mother, identified as Pashun Jeffrey, 20, was recovered at Lincoln Shores Apartments, located at 11601 4th Street North. The woman was stabbed multiple times.
In Taylen’s case, authorities had issued an AMBER alert Thursday to try to locate him.
Previously, the father had been identified as a person of interest in the case. The man faces two counts of first-degree murder, as he is also suspected of being the woman’s killer.
Mosley arrived at his mother’s house with cuts on his arm Wednesday at 9 pm He was later admitted to a hospital.
“Nothing in our investigation leads us to believe that he is a victim,” Holloway said.
Investigators are trying to establish if Taylen died before or before going to the lake.
The motive for the crime has not been established.