The 6-year-old and his younger sister have left the hospital as their mother faces attempted murder charges.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — The grandmother of a 6-year-old boy who authorities say was seriously injured in an attack by his mother says she is struggling to understand what happened while drawing hope from her grandson’s history of overcoming serious medical problems.
Jan Marie, Dawson’s paternal grandmother, spoke publicly about the boy after authorities said he and his 3-year-old sister were attacked at a Spartanburg County home in September. Their mother, 35-year-old Taylor Gosnell, is accused of attacking both children and faces two counts of attempted murder. Authorities have said the children survived serious injuries and have since been released from the hospital.
Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Bud Arthur Bridge Road on Sept. 26 for a welfare check. Investigators said the children were found injured and unattended. Authorities later accused Gosnell of attacking them during the previous night with a knife and a blunt object.
Marie said she was at work when she learned that her grandson had been injured. “My heart stopped. Immediately, I was going, ‘Oh, my God,’” she said. She described Dawson as a happy and loving child who has long shown a protective side toward his younger sister.
Marie said the allegations were particularly difficult to comprehend because she had previously viewed Gosnell as a caring mother. She recalled seeing her spend time and play with Dawson and said she had not expected the woman she knew to be accused of such an attack.
Marie also believes Dawson may have tried to protect his younger sister during the incident, though authorities have not publicly confirmed exactly how the children were positioned or what happened between them during the alleged attack. Her belief, she said, comes from the kind of older brother she knows Dawson to be.
The September attack was not Dawson’s first major health challenge. Marie said he was born with short gut syndrome, a condition that caused intestinal problems and required him to use a feeding tube as a baby. She said he underwent multiple surgeries and spent significant time in hospitals during his early childhood.
She also remembered lighter moments with her grandson, including a trip to a fair where Dawson playfully argued with her by answering “no” each time she said “yes.” The memory, captured on video, showed the personality she said family members know behind the medical struggles and the current criminal case.
Marie said Dawson’s father, Blake, died unexpectedly from a heart attack when Dawson was only a few months old. She said she has not seen Dawson in about two years but has continued to follow his life and recovery. She remains confident in his ability to endure another difficult period, saying simply, “Dawson is strong.”
The Sheriff’s Office said both children were released from the hospital last week and are now in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Authorities have said Dawson suffered particularly serious injuries that could require extensive treatment, while both children are expected to need additional medical care.
Gosnell was denied bond on the attempted murder charges. The criminal case remains pending, and authorities have not announced a motive for the alleged attack. The most recent local report lists her next court appearance for Nov. 19.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 13, 2026.