Taylor Schaefer, a 30-year-old Florida woman, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading no contest to charges related to the abuse of her 5-year-old son. She allowed her boyfriend to beat and torture the child, including handcuffing him for nearly 19 hours and placing him in a dog cage. The case came to light in May 2023 through home surveillance footage.
The incident unfolded in Volusia County, Florida, where Schaefer lived with her boyfriend, Shawn M. Stone, 35, and her children. In May 2023, Schaefer reviewed home surveillance video after suspecting abuse, which confirmed her fears. She contacted police but omitted that she had been present during much of the mistreatment and failed to intervene or report it earlier.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Stone repeatedly beat and tortured the 5-year-old boy. Video evidence showed the child with his hands bound behind his back for hours, including one instance from 6:43 p.m. until 2:02 p.m. the next day—nearly 19 hours. On another occasion, the boy's legs, feet, arms, and torso were bound for at least an hour while Stone stood over him. Footage also captured Stone yelling at and kicking the bruised child, with Schaefer entering the room to instruct the boy to stand up straight. The abuse included placing the child in a dog cage and depriving him of food.
The boy suffered dozens of injuries, with doctors identifying at least 46 visible ones, including a fractured skull and internal damage. He was often seen limping and visibly hurt in Schaefer's presence, yet received no medical attention. Stone's arrest on May 9, 2023, followed an alleged beating with a mop handle, punches, and kicks; he fled on a four-wheeler but was later caught.
Investigators uncovered abuse toward two other children in the home. One was forced to drink boiling water, sprayed with it, and beaten with household objects. A third child lacked proper nutrition and care for a medical condition. All children were removed to a safe environment.
Schaefer pleaded no contest to aggravated child abuse, conspiracy to commit child neglect with great bodily harm, and failure to report child abuse. Stone faces charges of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment, and neglect causing great bodily harm; his case remains ongoing, and he is held without bond.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood described the situation: "The torture these kids endured is hard to imagine." He noted the children are now safe and added that the abusers will face consequences.