Severe Child Abuse: Mother Blames a Spider

In a heartbreaking incidence of child abuse reported in Festus, Missouri, a 17 month old toddler was beaten to death by her mother Taylor Lynn Fast. Interestingly, the mother reported that her child was bitten by a spider which caused the death.

Taylor called the police and reported that her daughter was unconscious and that a spider had bitten her a day earlier. She alleged that she was unaware that her child was dead while informing the police about the spider bite over the call.

Upon reaching the house and looking at the child, it was very clear to the police that the child was dead and that the spider bite story was a bluff. As per the police, the toddler had severe injuries to her face and neck, and bruising over most of her body; they said it looked like she had been in a car wreck. Chief police officer, Timothy Lewis said that[1]:

“I’ve been a policeman for 32 years and this is the worst case of child abuse I’ve ever seen. There’s nothing that’s even come close to this. This child looked like a situation safe to say a child involved in a car accident. It was horrible,”

On searching the house, the police also found a 3 year old boy with a broken leg and bruises. The boy has been admitted for treatment and the custody of the child has been handed over to the Child Protective Services.

Taylor Lynn has been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Other charges will be put once the autopsy report of the toddler who passed away comes. The police are also searching for Taylor’s boyfriend who has been missing. He could be a key person of interest to bring some light to the said child abuse case.