On July 2, at approximately 9:00 a.m. Izard County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call concerning the welfare of a 2-year-old child. The concern was due to the child’s mother, Joanna Taylor, being arrested on warrants out of Fulton County on July 1 at approximately 7:00 p.m. during a traffic stop, in which the child was not with Taylor. Taylor did not mention, during the traffic stop, that she had left a child alone at home. Dispatch was also told Taylor had left the child alone in the past. Deputies arrived at the residence off Moser St. in Melbourne and gained entry into the home where a toddler was found alone. DCFS was notified and quickly arrived on scene to take charge of the care for the child.
During a post Miranda interview, Taylor admitted to leaving the child at the home alone while she was working multiple jobs for the last couple of months. Investigators have been able to confirm 12 days that Taylor was working. Investigators are continuing the investigation into how many more days the child was left alone.
As a result, Joanna Taylor, 34 of Melbourne, has been charged in the Izard County Circuit Court with 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree. Each count is a class d felony.