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Summary: Kaylee B. Shackelford, 20, of Powell, Tennessee, was discovered deceased in Rome, Georgia, on December 9, 2025, after suffering multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Pregnant at the time, she was allegedly attacked by acquaintance Mystique Malachi Amaziah Taylor, 23. Taylor and girlfriend Jayla McCullough, 19, hid her body. Taylor faces murder, assault, feticide, and evasion charges; McCullough is charged with concealing a death.
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ROME, Ga. (DailyKenn.com) — A young Tennessee woman and her unborn child died in a brutal attack that led to the arrests of two suspects in northwest Georgia, authorities said.
Kaylee Blair Shackelford, 20, from Powell, was found lifeless around noon on Dec. 9 in a public housing complex, according to Rome police. Officers responded to reports of a suspicious situation at the John Graham Homes apartments, where they discovered her body hidden under blankets in a residence. An autopsy later revealed she had been stabbed repeatedly and beaten with a baseball bat, causing fatal injuries, officials stated.
Investigators said Shackelford knew her alleged assailant, Mystique Malachi Amaziah Taylor, 23, of Rome. The sequence began earlier that day when Taylor reportedly lured Shackelford to his home. A confrontation ensued, during which Taylor stabbed her multiple times in the upper body and struck her head with the bat, a judge recounted during a bond hearing. Shackelford succumbed to her wounds at the scene.
Taylor's girlfriend, Jayla McCullough, 19, also of Rome, allegedly assisted in covering the body and concealing evidence. After the killing, the pair fled in a vehicle, prompting a brief police pursuit that ended with their capture. Taylor attempted to evade officers by driving recklessly, police reported.
During initial court appearances on Dec. 10, a magistrate detailed the graphic nature of the assault, denying bond for Taylor due to the severity of the crimes and flight risk. McCullough was granted bond but remained in custody. Further examination confirmed Shackelford was pregnant, leading prosecutors to add a feticide charge against Taylor on Dec. 12, elevating the case to involve the death of an unborn child.
Neighbors in the tight-knit Rome community expressed shock at the violence in their area. One resident, who spoke anonymously to local media, described hearing unusual noises but dismissing them as typical disturbances. "It's heartbreaking—such a young life gone," the neighbor said. Community members gathered for a vigil outside the apartments, lighting candles and sharing memories of Shackelford as a vibrant high school graduate known for her outspoken nature and kind heart, according to friends and family statements.
Powell residents, where Shackelford grew up and attended Glory Church at Dante, mourned her loss deeply. Her obituary highlighted her as a "light in a dark world" with a "heart as big as her world." Family members called for justice, emphasizing the double tragedy of losing both mother and child.
Authorities continue to probe motives, with early indications pointing to personal disputes, possibly a romantic entanglement. Taylor faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, feticide, concealing a death, eluding police, and reckless driving. McCullough is charged with concealing a death. Both remain jailed as the investigation proceeds, with preliminary hearings scheduled for later this month.
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