I-TEAM: Files reveal new details on baby’s death in Jefferson County

LOUISVILLE, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re learning new details related to the GBI’s investigation into the death of 8-month-old Caleb Taylor last month in Jefferson County.

We found the mother connected to this case also lost a child in Dekalb County back in 2021 — 7-month-old Micah Taylor.

Our I-TEAM obtained the investigations from the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services into the deaths of Micah and Caleb Taylor.

Caleb Taylor died Jan. 8 at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta.

An incident report from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, located in Caleb’s DFCS file, is giving new details on the night of the death.

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The report says deputies were dispatched for a report of a baby not breathing. When deputies arrived, family were leaving to go to the hospital behind the ambulance.

Deputies were told Caleb’s mother took him to a family member’s home around 8 p.m.

The report says the family member walked outside to the car to meet the mother to get Caleb. The car door was already open, and she had the back of the car seat with a cover over his head so she could not see Caleb.

The family member stated the mother immediately shut the door and did not say anything.

Inside the home, the car seat was placed on the bed and the blanket was removed.

While inside, the family member noticed a diaper covering at least part of the baby’s face. The family tells our I-TEAM the diaper was not on Caleb’s head. It was resting on his chin and lower lip near his chest.

The family member saw the infant had blue lips and face.

He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

A DFCS investigative report shows the mother picked up Caleb earlier on the day he died. The report says the baby was fine, laughing and playing in the car seat around 3:30 p.m.

The mother told DFCS she had Caleb that day from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

She stated that when she picked Caleb up, he appeared to be drowsy and sleepy, which contradicts family ’ previous statements to DFCS.

The mother stated that Caleb was with her at her grandmother’s house.

She stated that they watched a fish movie, and Caleb took a nap. She stated after his nap, he appeared to be droopy, and she thought he was teething. She fed him, and he slept for another 20 minutes.

She stated shortly after that, they went to a family member’s house, and he ed away.

DFCS talked with Jefferson County Coroner Randy Miller, who said the mother had taken Caleb to Jefferson County Medical Center two weeks earlier for respiratory issues.

Miller explained to DFCS that the mother’s timelines kept changing. He stated that it changed several times.

DFCS documents say Caleb did have a milk allergy. A new prescription was picked up prior to his death. He did not have any underlying medical conditions.

Caleb’s death is still being actively investigated by the GBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

An earlier child death

That’s not the only child the mother in this case has lost a young child.

Micah Taylor died at 7 months old on Sept. 13, 2021, at Egleston Children’s Hospital. He was under DFCS’ watch at Little Debbie’s 2nd Chance Homes.

The mother told DFCS investigators that Micah ed away from respiratory issues, though our I-TEAM found the cause of Micah’s death was undetermined.

According to a DFCS investigative report into Micah’s death, it states an employee of Little Debbie’s, Ms. Rachel Davis, is the person who found Micah unresponsive.

DFCS documents describe what witnesses say happened the night of Micah’s death. Between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., the mother fed Micah an infant formula bottle and baby food, which she stated made his stomach sick because he had two loose bowel movements and threw up on his clothes.

She gave him a bath in the upstairs bathroom.

She then returned Micah to his swing in the family room, stating he was sleepy and fussy. Davis noticed minutes later that Micah appeared to be slumped over, pale and unresponsive.

They placed Micah on the table in the office to begin R with guidance of the 911 operator until Dekalb EMS arrived. Davis states she was put on hold several times before connecting with 911 operators.

Micah died at Egleston Children’s Hospital that night.

An autopsy report from the Dekalb County Medical Examiner’s Office tell us Micah’s cause of death was undetermined.

The autopsy report also details that a baby bottle containing acetone was found at the scene.

Micah’s blood did not contain acetone, and the report says the significance of that finding in the bottle is uncertain.

Four days after Micah’s death, on Sept. 17, 2021, a group home employee found an open Alimentum Formula that belonged to Micah on the family room bookshelf.

Upon inspection, the employee noted that the formula smelled of chemicals. DeKalb County SVU picked up the formula, according to the report.

Later that evening, Dekalb County detectives returned a search warrant for felony murder to look for any and all items that may contain acetone. They removed three items from the home including hair glue, nail polish remover and hand sanitizer.

The report also states the mother and Micah were listed as runaways. No one knew where they were for the week leading up to Micah’s death. They had just returned to the group the day before Micah’s died, according to documents.

The DFCS reports say one resident in the home stated that she did not feel safe in the home with the mother and felt she did something to hurt Micah because she wanted him out of the way to be free.

The DFCS file states that the mother’s responses to hearing her son died and processing the grief the next few days was strange.

According to the report, she did not have any emotional outburst or crying until about an hour after learning his fate, which was crying for about three minutes.

DFCS says there were no inconsistencies in the reports and interviews from all parties, except for the mother.

The investigative report says, “It is determined by LDSCH (Little Debbie’s 2nd Chance Homes) internal investigation that the staff acted in accordance with policy in health and safety attempts with Micah.”

Documents also reveal prior to the ing of Micah, the birth mother was on runaway with the youth. There had been several complaints to the department following a psychological evaluation and from the group home regarding birth mother’s lack of attachment and being unfit to parent her children.

Micah and the mother continued to be placed together following the evaluations. There were no concerns in the group home.

Little Debbie’s compliance coordinator closed the internal investigation with no findings of abuse or neglect against the staff. The case will be unsubstantiated due to lack of evidence to indicate child maltreatment.

The DFCS investigation confirms a group home employee says the mother in this case also has two daughters, ages 1 and 2 at the time, who were in foster care.

The GBI told us it’s aware of Micah’s death, but not currently investigating it. Micah’s DFCS file says the GBI has requested all documents related to his death.

We did reach out to DFCS regarding the death of Caleb Taylor earlier this month.

DFCS staff tell us they’re aware of the recent, tragic death and they do have a history with Caleb’s family. They’re working alongside law enforcement as the investigation continues.

As for the investigation into Micah’s death, we’re working to get more details from the Dekalb County Police Department.

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