Deputies found the 3- and 6-year-old children alone Saturday, beginning an investigation that led to two attempted murder charges against their mother.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A welfare check at a Spartanburg County home Saturday afternoon led deputies to two young children who were injured and alone, setting off an investigation that resulted in their mother being charged with two counts of attempted murder.
Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office went to the 1400 block of Bud Arthur Bridge Road around 2:30 p.m. to check on the welfare of the children. Authorities said deputies found a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old unattended inside the residence with injuries that appeared to have been caused by a knife. Both children were taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.
Investigators later charged the children’s mother, 35-year-old Taylor Gosnell, with two counts of attempted murder. The sheriff’s office said its investigation determined the children had been attacked with a knife and a blunt object. The allegations have not been proven in court, and authorities said the investigation remains active.
Both children are expected to recover, authorities said. The 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said the older child suffered severe damage to an arm and could require an amputation. Officials have not released the children’s names, and further information about their medical conditions has been limited.
Authorities initially described the case as a welfare investigation and said a parent had been detained for questioning. As investigators examined the residence and gathered information, the case developed into a criminal investigation. Gosnell was later arrested and booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
The solicitor’s office said televisions and mirrors were found shattered at the residence. Officials also said Gosnell was taken by ambulance for an evaluation after she arrived at the property and attempted to leave the ambulance. Authorities have not released the results of that evaluation or said what role, if any, it could have in the criminal proceedings.
The circumstances that prompted someone to request the welfare check have not been fully detailed publicly. Authorities also have not released a motive or a complete timeline explaining what happened before deputies reached the home. The sheriff’s office has said investigators believe the attack occurred before the children were discovered Saturday afternoon.
A judge denied Gosnell bond Sunday. She remained in custody while the case continued through the court system. No other person has been publicly identified as facing charges in connection with the children’s injuries.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active. The children’s recovery, the extent of the older child’s injury and the criminal proceedings against Gosnell remain the principal unresolved developments in the case.
Author note: Last updated September 28, 2026.