A Florida mother from DeLand was sentenced to 60 years in prison for allowing her boyfriend to severely abuse her 5-year-old son over repeated incidents, resulting in the child’s fractured skull and 46 visible injuries. Taylor Schaefer entered an open plea to 25 felony charges, including aggravated child abuse, kidnapping, and witness tampering.
Abuse Details
The case surfaced in May 2023 when Schaefer reported seeing home surveillance video of her boyfriend, Shawn Stone, punching the boy and hitting him with a mop over a bedwetting accident while she was out. Further investigation revealed additional videos showing Schaefer present during the abuse; she failed to get medical help for the boy’s obvious injuries. Footage also captured the child bound with hands behind his back for hours, locked in a dog cage, and deprived of food as punishment. This occurred in a home with three children.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Schaefer was sentenced Friday by the 7th Judicial Circuit after her plea. State Attorney R.J. Larizza condemned her actions, stating a mother’s duty is to protect, not enable torture. Stone’s case remains pending with no plea details available.
