Mother charged over stabbing of two children; grandmother says boy, 6, shielded sister
Taylor Gosnell, 35, is accused of stabbing her children, 6 and 3, in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Sept. 26. The children's grandmother says the boy was hurt worst because he tried to protect his sister.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Taylor Gosnell, 35, is accused of stabbing her two children, Dawson, 6, and Hazel, 3, nearly 50 times at their home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Sept. 26, according to police as relayed by the New York Post. New York PostR “Gosnell allegedly stabbed her two kids nearly 50 times during the unhinged rampage in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Sept. 26, cops said.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “as the two were stabbed some 50 times” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The children's grandmother, Jan Marie Mull, 59, told the U.S. Sun that Dawson suffered the worst injuries and that the likeliest reason was that he was trying to protect Hazel; this is her inference, not an established finding. New York PostR ““The only thing I can visualize why Dawson had more injuries than Hazel was Dawson was trying to protect Hazel,” the grandma told the outlet.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “said her grandson took the worst of the attack after he jumped in to protect his sister” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The solicitor's office told a bond court the injuries included lacerations "so deep they cut to the bone", and that both children were in stable condition, according to WCBD News 2 as cited by the Post. New York PostR ““lacerations so deep they cut to the bone,” but are in stable condition, the solicitor’s office said in bond court, according to WCBD News 2.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Mull said Dawson is kept sedated and doctors are considering amputation; Breitbart describes this as possible amputation of his arm. New York PostR ““The medicine keeps him knocked out. They are looking at amputation,” Mull told the US Sun.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “may have to have his arm amputated as a result” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Police found the children alone and bloodied after Dawson phoned his grandmother to say he was hungry, which led to a welfare check; Breitbart adds that deputies found the home covered in blood with televisions and mirrors destroyed. New York PostR “Cops discovered the kids alone and covered in blood only because Dawson had called his grandmother to complain that he was hungry, leading to a wellness check, local outlets reported.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “Deputies found the residence covered with blood and televisions and mirrors destroyed” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Investigators said Gosnell returned home shortly after they arrived and appeared distressed; when taken to an ambulance for a mental health evaluation, she tried to flee and was handcuffed to a stretcher, according to the solicitor's office. New York PostR “When she was taken to an ambulance for a mental health evaluation, she attempted to flee and had to be handcuffed to a stretcher, according to the solicitor’s office.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Gosnell faces attempted murder charges, is held without bond, and is due in court on Nov. 12. BreitbartR “Facing attempted murder charges is Taylor Gosnell, 35” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “Gosnell is currently being held without bond. She will appear in court on Nov. 12.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Mull, whose late son Blake was Dawson's father, said she had never known Gosnell to abuse the children and saw no bruises, and that she was not surprised Dawson would try to protect his sister. New York PostR “Mull, whose deceased son Blake is Dawson’s father”““Dawson’s got that kind of love for everybody. He takes after my son in that department.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Breitbart places the case in a broader theme of mothers harming children after the Lindsay Clancy trial, a label one of its columnists calls "Lindsay Clancy Contagion", while acknowledging it is unknown whether this is a real trend or a matter of media attention. BreitbartR “which one Breitbart columnist labeled “Lindsay Clancy Contagion.””“remains to be analyzed and determined by criminologists.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with the grandmother's account of a brave boy shielding his sister, and describe the mother in strongly negative terms. Breitbart adds a political-cultural frame linking the case to the Lindsay Clancy trial.
- Emphasis
- The boy's heroism, the severity of injuries and possible amputation; Breitbart stresses a supposed pattern of 'millennial' mothers attacking children.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports any statement from Gosnell or her lawyer, or any motive or mental-health findings. Breitbart omits the bond-court detail on the injuries and her attempt to flee; the Post omits the wider trend framing.
- Charged language
- “psycho mom’s stabbing rampage”“unhinged rampage”“heroically”“millennial mom”“Lindsay Clancy Contagion”
- For example
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“Boy, 6, heroically protected younger sister during psycho mom’s stabbing rampage: grandmother” — New York Post
“in what was yet another case of a millennial mom being charged with trying to murder her own kids” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Taylor Gosnell, 35, is accused of attacking her children Dawson, 6, and Hazel, 3, with a knife in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
- The children were stabbed about 50 times in total, per both outlets.
- Grandmother Jan Marie Mull, 59, speaking to the U.S. Sun, says Dawson protected Hazel and took the worst injuries.
- Police went to the home after Dawson called his grandmother saying he was hungry.
- Gosnell is held without bond and due in court on Nov. 12.
Where accounts differ
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Why Dawson was hurt worse than his sister
- Right
- Both outlets present the grandmother's view that he was protecting Hazel as the explanation; the Post calls him "heroically" protective and Breitbart "courageous". Neither cites police confirmation.
Taylor Gosnell person
Gosnell is accused and held without bond; the coverage carries no statement from her. She is described as having returned home distressed and tried to flee during a mental health evaluation.
“Investigators said that Gosnell returned home shortly after they arrived and appeared to be distressed.” — New York Post
“Gosnell is currently being held without bond.” — Breitbart
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Boy, 6, heroically protected younger sister during psycho mom’s stabbing rampage: grandmother
Alarmist Hero-and-villain account built on the grandmother's quotes, with emotive language about the mother's attack.
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Alarmist Repackages the grandmother's account and ties it to a claimed trend of millennial mothers harming children after the Clancy case, while noting the trend is unproven.
- 7 Oct 21:03 First New York PostR Boy, 6, heroically protected younger sister during psycho mom’s stabbing rampage: grandmother
- 10 Oct 19:09 +70h 6m BreitbartR Grandmother: Six-Year-Old Stepped In to Save His Little Sister from Their Mother's Alleged Knife Attack
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.