Florida father charged with murder after toddler found in alligator's mouth

On Friday, the body of 2-year-old Taylen Mosley was found in the mouth of a Florida alligator in Lake Maggiore and the boy's father, 21-year-old Thomas Mosley, has been charged with murder for both the deaths of the boy and his mother, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffrey, who was discovered dead in her apartment on Thursday.

Fox News reports St. Petersburg Police Department Chief Anthony Holloway said, "It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that we found the body of Taylen Mosley. My condolences to his family."

"We are sorry it has had to end this way," Holloway added.

Authorities charged Mosley with two counts of first degree murder following a search for the boy after his mother was found fatally stabbed in her apartment on Thursday.

After the mother, Pashun Jeffrey, was discovered both state and federal authorities launched into a manhunt.

Lakes and ponds surrounding the apartment complex were searched by local Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue, Clearwater Fire Rescue, and St. Petersburg Fire Rescue teams. Cadaver dogs were deployed by Search and Rescue of Central Florida. 

Fox reports that "evening officers were alerted to an alligator seen with something in its mouth."

When the boy's body was found in the jaws of the alligator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were enlisted to help with the animal and the reptile was terminated in the retrieval of the body.

The 2-year-old's cause of death has yet to be officially determined by the medical examiner.

Pashun Jeffrey worked at a local CVS and she had only recently moved into the apartment complex with Thomas Mosley. The mother and son pair were last seen alive by family on Wednesday and when Pashun Jeffrey's mother did not hear from her daughter on Thursday, she called the apartment complex management.

When she was found, Chief Holloway said he discovered "a very violent crime scene."

According to local news, she was stabbed over 100 times.

Neighbors told authorities they heard a fight between Thomas and Pashun on Wednesday. He then went to his mother with cuts on his hands and arms. When he was arrested he was hospitalized for those injuries.