Taunton Child Abuse Suspect Held Without Bail

A Taunton woman accused of brutally beating her boyfriend's two-year-old son has been ordered held without bail.

Alanna Taylor, 27, appeared in Taunton District Court yesterday for a dangerousness hearing. She had been held in custody following her arrest last week on one count of assault and battery on a child resulting in serious bodily injury. Now she may be held for up to 120 days awaiting trial.

Emergency crews responded to Taylor’s apartment at 78 Somerset Ave. on Dec. 11 and found the unresponsive toddler. The child was airlifted to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Rhode Island with life-threatening injuries, including bleeding to the brain. The child underwent a five-hour surgery and remains in critical condition.

While Taylor initially told police the boy fell and hit his head on the bathtub, a medical report included in court documents says his blunt force trauma injuries are consistent with child abuse.

On the day of the incident, Taylor, described in a police report as "hysterical," called a friend, who came over and found the unresponsive toddler. Taylor allegedly told her friend not to call 911.

Taylor is due back in court Jan. 15 for a probable cause hearing.