Taylor Gosnell faces two attempted murder charges after deputies found her young children injured during a welfare check in Spartanburg County.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A 35-year-old South Carolina mother has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after deputies conducting a welfare check found her 3- and 6-year-old children seriously injured and unattended inside a home, authorities said.
Taylor Gosnell was arrested after Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies responded shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, to a residence in the 1400 block of Bud Arthur Bridge Road in the Cowpens area. Investigators allege Gosnell attacked the children with a knife and a blunt object sometime before deputies arrived. Both children were hospitalized, and authorities said they were expected to survive.
Deputies said the children had injuries that appeared to have been caused by a knife. They were taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. The 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said during court proceedings that the 6-year-old suffered particularly serious injuries to an arm and could require an amputation. Authorities have not publicly identified either child.
The Solicitor’s Office also said televisions and mirrors inside the residence had been shattered. Investigators have not publicly announced a motive for the alleged attack, and the circumstances leading up to the children’s injuries remain part of an active investigation.
Authorities said Gosnell arrived at the residence while law enforcement officers were investigating. Questions were raised about her mental state at the scene, according to information presented by prosecutors, and she was transported by ambulance for an evaluation. Officials said she attempted to leave the ambulance during that process. Authorities have not announced any medical diagnosis, and no conclusion about her mental condition has been established publicly.
Investigators later determined that Gosnell allegedly attacked the children with both a knife and a blunt object, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She was taken into custody and booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center. The allegations against Gosnell have not been proven in court.
A judge denied Gosnell bond following her arrest. She faces two counts of attempted murder. Court proceedings and investigators’ accounts provide allegations at this stage of the case, and Gosnell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Sheriff’s Office said both children remained hospitalized in stable condition and were expected to recover. Officials have provided limited information about their injuries beyond the concern raised about the 6-year-old’s arm. Their names have not been released because they are minors.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active. Authorities had not publicly announced a motive or a final account of what led to the alleged attack as of Wednesday, and additional findings could emerge as investigators continue reviewing the case.
Author note: Last updated September 30, 2026.