The father of a missing Florida tot, Taylen Mosley, is reportedly not speaking to police after the child’s mother was found murdered Thursday in a St. Petersburg apartment.
Taylen, 2, was last seen in St. Petersburg on Wednesday afternoon at around 5:20 p.m., prompting law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Police said the child could be in danger and could “be anywhere.”
According to Chief Anthony Holloway with the St. Petersburg Police Department, Taylen’s father arrived at his mother’s home with cuts on his arms at 9 p.m. Wednesday. He then went to a hospital, where he currently remains for treatment. It’s unclear at this point how he was wounded.
“Nothing in our investigation leads us to believe that he is a victim,” Holloway said of the child’s father.
Police are not releasing the name of the child’s father right now, as he’s not considered a suspect, but a person of interest, Fox 13 reports. Police added that they’re “confident” Taylen isn’t with his father.
#BREAKING St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said the father of Taylen Mosley is not speaking with police as they search for the 2-year-old. He also said Taylen's father showed up to his mother's house with cuts on his arms. Read more: https://t.co/xKAhYOmJwW pic.twitter.com/VpoGC8hM24
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 31, 2023
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police found Taylen’s mother, Pashun Jeffery, 20, deceased in an apartment at the Lincoln Shores Apartments in St. Petersburg, at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Pashun’s mother, Lakita Denson, reportedly contacted the property’s manager to check on Pashun, leading police to find a “very violent homicide scene within the apartment,” St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway told Bay News 9.
Later on Thursday, police found Pashun’s vehicle at the apartment complex and searched through it. They also had a dumpster hauled away. Holloway said there was a blood trail leading to Pashun’s car.
Meanwhile, several law enforcement agencies are assisting in the search for Taylen. Divers were seen Friday searching St. Pete pond, near the apartment complex.
“We want to find this baby. That’s our goal right now. Where is this baby? If someone has this baby, call us, let us bring this baby back to his family. He’s already lost his mom,” Holloway said.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call 911 or St. Petersburg Police at (727) 893-7780 or text SPPD and your tip to TIP411.
Crime Stoppers of Pinellas announced a $5,000 reward for information that helps the investigation. Call (800) 873-TIPS or visit www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.
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[Feature Photo: Taylen Mosley/St. Petersburg Police Department]
