Written by: E. George
Published February 5, 2024 @ 3:00 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – A 24-year-old Brunswick mother faces a first-degree child cruelty charge for biting her toddler son on his shoulder at McDonald’s after she became locked out of her vehicle. At first, she denied the crime and told the responding Brunswick Police officers the child “must have bit himself,” but she confessed after they told her they viewed the incident on the company’s security footage.
On December 14, 2023, the officers received a call from a woman who witnessed the act. She explained that while in the drive-thru line, she observed the woman standing outside her vehicle, holding the boy when she bit him.
Upon arrival, they saw the mother, Abby Taylor, holding the child. They noted that the outside temperature was cold, and he “had no shirt, socks, or shoes on.” When asked about his lack of clothing, she said she locked her keys inside the vehicle, “and that’s why she was needing officers’ assistance.”
They also observed an adult-sized bite mark on his left shoulder. When they asked her about it, she said, “He likes to [bite himself] when he gets irritated.” Then, she told them she had taken him “to a trampoline park with a million kids in it last night,” and she had not noticed the mark “last night.”
In the security video, the officers saw Taylor “become frustrated with the child while trying to grab things out of her vehicle.” Immediately after she bit him, the child began crying and reached with his right hand to grab the bitten area.
When they told her they had viewed “camera footage stating otherwise,” she replied, “Yes, sir; I would like to tell you the truth. I got frustrated about my situation, and I know I shouldn’t have, but I bit my son.”
The officers contacted child services to report the incident, and the child was placed with an immediate family member. They arrested Taylor and transported her to the jail.
This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on December 14, 2023]
I responded to Mcdonalds located at 4545 Altama Ave in reference to a child abuse call.
After arriving on scene, I spoke with Ms. Abby Taylor who was holding her child who at the time had no Shirt, socks, or shoes on. While speaking with the offender I observed a bite mark on the left shoulder of the child. I asked the offender where the bite mark came from at which time she replied ” he must have bit himself, he likes to do that when he gets irritated.”
I began questioning Ms. Taylor where the childs clothing was and why they were not on his persons? she advised her keys were locked inside her vehicle and that’s why she was needing officers assitance. While Ms. Taylor was talking with assisting Officers on scene, I attempted to find any witnesses inside the establishment who may have witnessed any physical abuse. Everyone I made contact with inside never witnessed any physical abuse, only witnessed the child being half dressed.
While on scene, I was approached by Ms. [WITNESS #1] who advised me she was the one who called 911. I asked Ms. [WITNESS #1] to explain to me what events she witnessed, she stated ” She bit that child.” I asked Ms. [WITNESS #1] where she witnessed this take place, she advised while she was in the drive thru, she observed Ms. Taylor standing outside of the her vehicle holding the child when she witnessed the child be bitten by Ms.Taylor. I then asked if she was willing to give a witnees statement to Officers which she state “yes.” Ofc. Johnson assisted with obtaining a witness statement.
While Officers were speaking with the witeness, I made contact with the on site manager in order to obtain camera footage. While reviewing camera footage I observed Ms. Taylor standing in the said location from the witness, holding her child with a blanket around him. She appread to become frustrated with the child while trying to grab thing out of her vehicle. while Ms.Taylor is still holding the child I observed her Bit the child on the left shoulder, immediatley after it happen I see the child reach with the right hand and grab at the area he was bitten. On camera, I observed the child began crying after he was bitten by Ms. Taylor. I recorder this camera footage with my department issued body cam, and my personal cell phone in order to attach to the report. I also obtained two still pictures of the victims injuries.
I made contact with child services to inform the of the situation and notify them of the action that we would be taken criminaly. I advised child services there were no available case workes present at the time to dispatch to the scene and if a family member could come take tempory custody of the child.
I read the Ms. Taylor her miranda rights and which time she informed me she understood her right and did wish to speak to me. I asked the Offender if she could walk me through from the time she arrived to the above location to the time Officers arrived. Ms. Taylor stated ” we went inside to get some food and I locked myself out of my car.” I asked where he bit mark came from? she stated ” sir i really dont know, I didn’t notice it last night. I did take him to a trampoline park with a million kids in it last night.” I stated I have camera footage stating otherwise, so would you like to tell me? the offender to stated “yes sir I would like to tell you the truth, I got frustrated about my situation and I know I shouldn’t have but I bit my son.” I then asked ” where were you at when you at when you bit him? Ms. Taylor stated ” I must have been standing right next to him” I asked if she remembers where she bit him? she stated ” I guess on her left arm.” Ms. Taylor was then placed under arrest for Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree.
The victim was placed with a immediate family member. The offender was transported to the CDC where she was booked and released to jail staff.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on December 14, 2023]
I Ofc. Harrell was dispatched to 4545 Altama Ave, for child abuse. Upon arrival found mom standing in the car door and the small child sitting in the front seat of the car. The child only had a pair of thin pants on, the temperature outside was approximately 50 degrees and windy. Ofc. Sasser was talking to mom about her child. Ofc. Sasser noticed a bite mark on the child’s left shoulder and took a picture of the mark. Video surveillance was viewed and mom was arrested by evidence of mom bitting child on the shoulder.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on December 14, 2023]
On 12/14/23 at 0823 Hrs, I responded assisted with a call from dispatch regarding Child Abuse at 4545 Altama Ave (Mcdonalds) in the City of Brunswick.
Upon arrival, there was a adult white female identified as Abby Taylor, holding a toddler-aged male, standing outside next to a black Hyundai Tucson. The toddler, who was the son of Ms. Taylor, was only wearing a diaper and a pair of pajama/sweat pants, and no shirt or shoes. The weather outside was significantly chilly with high winds. Ms. Taylor was interviewed by other officers on the condition of her child and the lack of clothing being provided to him. There was large bruise in the shape of an adult bite mark on the toddler’s left shoulder. I asked Ms. Taylor about an adult side bite mark on the left shoulder of her son and she stated “He probably bit himself”. Ms. Taylor was asked to go back inside Mcdonalds with her son, as it was not appropriate to have a toddler outside with no clothing in the current weather. Ms. Taylor was locked out of her vehicle in the parking lot at the time.
Then the complainant, [WITNESS #1], who reported the incident arrived back on scene, and informed me and other officers that she witnessed Ms. Taylor bite her son on the left shoulder outside in the parking lot. Ms. [WITNESS #1] provided a written statement at the scene describing the events that happened and provided it to me. The written statement was provided to the primary officer for this case.
[End of Narrative]