Florida police looking for missing 2-year-old after mom found dead

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On Friday afternoon, St. Petersburg police gave an update in the search for the 2-year-old subject of a Florida Amber Alert, Taylen Mosley. The toddler is missing after his mother, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffery, was found dead on Thursday.

Jeffery's mother, Lakita Denson, was present at the address and begged for help: "Taylen is a beautiful little boy. He's very loving and caring. He will smile and laugh at anybody ... I'm asking everybody. Somebody saw something. If you know something, say something. He lost his mommy, so he needs his family right now."

Jeffery was remembered as outspoken and always trying to make people laugh. She had only lived in the area for a month, family members said.

St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said there have been dive teams and K9s dedicated to the search, but no trace of Taylen has been found.

Mother found dead

According to police, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffery was found dead around 2:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Shores Apartments in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway told WFLA that Pashun and Taylen were last seen by family Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. Then, around 9:30 p.m., a neighbor told police they heard a commotion coming from the apartment.

Family members couldn't reach Pashun the next day and called apartment staff to check on her. That's when her body was found in the unit.

“I can tell you it's a very violent homicide scene in the apartment,” Holloway said. “Our main concern is we need to find this 2-year-old. We need to know where he is.”

Amber Alert

Taylen Mosley is described as a Black male standing 2 feet tall and weighing 30 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Law enforcement says he was last seen in the 11600 block of Fourth Street North in St. Petersburg, Florida.

If you see him, you are asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780 or 911.

Person of interest

Taylen’s father – who has not been publicly identified – is a person of interest in his disappearance, but investigators confirmed they spoke to him, and he does not have the child.

Holloway explained that Taylen's father is in the hospital and had cuts on his hands and arms.

“Nothing in our investigation leads us to believe that he is a victim,” Holloway said.

Taylen’s father has refused to speak further with police, according to the chief.

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