SALT LAKE CITY –Salt Lake City Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with an injured 1-year-old child sent to an area hospital with major head trauma Monday afternoon.
The child was left alone with his mother’s live-in boyfriend Brian Taylor, for a short period of time, according to a probable cause statement.
Family of Xander Toliver said they were shocked to learn Taylor was accused of harming him. According to them, Taylor was living in the basement of the home, and they had never experienced issues with him in the past.
“I’m just thinking it was all so useless. Why take a darling baby that didn’t know anybody and want to destroy him?” asked Carolyn Crawford, Xander’s great-grandmother.
At approximately 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Fire responded to their house at 2393 S. 800 East on a 911 call. Xander was taken to Primary Children’s Medical Center in serious condition, where hospital staff discovered he was suffering from serious head trauma. They contacted authorities out of concern for the child’s well-being.
“The boyfriend was left with the child. The child was in good condition when the child was left with him, and when they came home, he was found in the condition he was transported to the hospital in,” said Sgt. Robin Heiden with Salt Lake City Police.
Police obtained a search warrant for the property by Monday evening. Following interviews with family members, authorities said they were able to conclude Taylor was responsible for Xander’s injuries.
“They’ve got to be really upset about this,” said Heiden. “Just barely one and he’s in serious condition.”
The child is currently on life support is not expected to survive.
Taylor has been charged with a second-degree felony child abuse.
