St. Petersburg police: Florida toddler found dead in alligator’s mouth, father arrested

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A Florida toddler missing since Wednesday has been found dead and his father has been arrested.

Two-year-old Taylen Mosley was last seen in the area of the 11600 block of 4th Street North in St. Petersburg, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. His disappearance sparked an Amber Alert.

The body of the missing boy was found in the mouth of an alligator in Lake Maggiore, several miles from his home. The alligator was shot so that the boy’s body could be retrieved intact.

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said an autopsy would be needed to determine the exact cause of death.

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“I would like to thank all the law enforcement agencies that assisted today, and since Wednesday and a special thanks to our detectives here at St. Pete Police Department,” Holloway said. “These men and women have worked tirelessly since Wednesday at 2:30 hoping to find Taylen and for a better outcome, but again, that didn’t happen.”

Mosley’s mother — Pashun Jeffrey, 20 — was found killed in her apartment around 2:30 p.m., and an Amber Alert was issued afterward when police realized Mosley was missing, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. The police chief described the apartment as a “violent crime scene,” and said she had been stabbed multiple times.

The department said on Friday the boy’s father, Thomas Mosley, 21, who was a person of interest, has now been arrested and faces murder charges for both Jeffrey and the boy.

Investigators said Thomas Mosley turned up Wednesday night at a hospital with cuts to his hands and arms. He was not cooperating with the investigation, but the St. Petersburg police said the father has since asked for an attorney.

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