A Georgia woman has been taken into custody following an investigation into the suspicious deaths of her two infant sons. The arrests come several months after the incidents.
Dakota Taylor, aged 21, was apprehended at a McDuffie County apartment complex, facing charges for the 2021 murder of her 7-month-old son, Micah. According to WRDW, Taylor is also accused of the death of her 8-month-old son, Caleb, who died in January in Jefferson County.
Taylor recounted that she found Caleb appearing lethargic, which conflicted with relatives’ observations that he was cheerful and active in his car seat. She mentioned that Caleb had been with her at his grandmother’s house, where he reportedly napped.
According to WRDW, Taylor stated that after Caleb awoke looking tired, she fed him, and he slept for an additional 20 minutes.
Later, Taylor claimed they visited another family member’s residence, where Caleb passed away. The family member noted that Caleb arrived with a blanket covering his car seat, leaving them unaware of his condition. WAVE reported that once inside, the blanket was removed, revealing that Caleb’s lips had turned blue.
Family members shared with WRDW that a diaper was found covering Caleb’s lower face and chest area.
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.
[Feature Photo: WRDW]
