Police arrested a Georgia woman last week, months after her second infant son died under suspicious circumstances.
Dakota Taylor, 21, was arrested at an apartment complex in McDuffie County for the 2021 murder of her 7-month-old son, Micah. WRDW reported that authorities also charged Taylor with killing her 8-month-old son, Caleb, this January in Jefferson County.
Taylor said she picked up Caleb, who appeared drowsy — contradicting relatives’ claims that he was laughing and playing in his car seat. She said Caleb was with her at his grandmother’s home, where he took a nap.
She claimed he woke up and looked droopy, so she fed him, and he slept for another 20 minutes, according to WRDW.
Taylor said they eventually went to another family member’s house, where Caleb died. The family member said Caleb was brought to the home with a blanket over his car seat, so they were unaware of the infant’s condition. WAVE reported that the child was eventually brought into the home — where they removed the blanket and discovered his lips were blue.
Family members told WRDW that a diaper was found covering Caleb’s chin and lower lip near his chest.
Jefferson County police determined Taylor suffocated and killed Caleb, subjecting him to “excessive mental and physical pain.” The Department of Children and Families noted that she repeatedly changed her timeline regarding what happened to her son that day.
While the 2021 death of Taylor’s other infant son, Micah, was ruled undetermined, a grand jury determined she intentionally obstructed his airways.
WRDW reported Micah died while under DCFS’ supervision at Little Debbie’s 2nd Chance Homes, with an employee finding his lifeless body.
Witnesses said Taylor fed him formula and baby food, which made him sick, as evidenced by his vomiting on his clothes and two loose bowel movements.
Taylor reportedly gave Micah a bath in an upstairs bathroom before putting him in a swing in the family room. While Taylor said her son was fussy and sleepy, minutes later, the employee found him pale and unresponsive.
Taylor claimed Micah died of respiratory issues. While the autopsy did not determine a cause of death, officials noted that a bottle containing acetone was found at the scene. Its relevance remains a mystery, as acetone was not detected in the baby’s blood, according to WRDW.
Four days after Micah’s death, a group home employee reportedly discovered Micah’s open can of formula in the family room. The employee stated that the can reeked of chemicals.
Additionally, officers who responded to Micah’s death pointed out Taylor’s “nonchalant” demeanor as they carried her baby out of the home.
“I don’t know if this has anything to do with anything, but the mother didn’t … She was very … Like, ‘Alright, whatever’. And I was like, your baby is …” an officer commented.
Taylor is charged with malice murder, felony murder, and first-degree child cruelty. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said its investigation is ongoing.
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[Feature Photo: WRDW]
