6-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Protected His Younger Sister During Mother’s Knife Attack, Grandmother Says

A 6-year-old boy may have put himself in harm’s way to protect his 3-year-old sister during an alleged knife attack by their mother, according to their grandmother.

Jan Marie Mull, 59, said her grandson Dawson suffered the most serious injuries because she believes he was trying to shield his younger sister, Hazel, during the attack in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

“The only thing I can visualize why Dawson had more injuries than Hazel was Dawson was trying to protect Hazel,” Mull told the US Sun.

Children Left With Severe Injuries

Police said Taylor Gosnell, 35, allegedly stabbed her two children nearly 50 times during the Sept. 26 attack.

According to the solicitor’s office, both children suffered severe injuries, including “lacerations so deep they cut to the bone.” Despite the extent of their wounds, the children were reported to be in stable condition during bond court, according to WCBD News 2.

Dawson is pictured with this mother Gosnell in August 2022. Facebook/Tay Gosnell

Authorities and Mull said Dawson suffered the worst of the injuries.

His grandmother told the US Sun that doctors were considering amputating one of his limbs.

“The medicine keeps him knocked out. They are looking at amputation,” Mull said.

Mull is Dawson’s grandmother and the mother of his late father, Blake. She said she was devastated when she learned what had happened to her grandchildren.

“I couldn’t breathe. Honest to God, I could not breathe. I was freaking floored,” she said.

Dawson’s Call Led Police to the Children

Mull, whose deceased son Blake is Dawson’s father, said she was “floored” when she heard what had happened to the two children.  Facebook/Blake Ross

The children were discovered alone and covered in blood after Dawson called his grandmother to complain that he was hungry, according to local reports.

The call prompted a wellness check, which led authorities to the children.

Investigators said Gosnell returned home shortly after officers arrived and appeared distressed.

According to the solicitor’s office, Gosnell was taken to an ambulance for a mental health evaluation but attempted to flee. She was ultimately handcuffed to a stretcher.

Grandmother Says She Never Saw Signs of Abuse

Mull said she was shocked by the alleged attack because she had never known Gosnell to physically abuse the children.

“I’d never known [Taylor] to beat or abuse these kids,” she said, adding that she had never seen bruises or anything else that raised concerns.

“I don’t know what happened,” Mull said.

When Taylor Gosnell was taken to an ambulance for a mental health evaluation after authorities discovered the condition her children were in, she attempted to flee and had to be handcuffed to a stretcher, according to the solicitor’s office.  Facebook/Tay Gosnell

Although the circumstances surrounding the attack shocked her, Mull said she was not surprised that Dawson might have tried to protect Hazel.

“Dawson’s got that kind of love for everybody. He takes after my son in that department. I think he was just probably trying to protect her,” she said.

Gosnell is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12.