The Augusta parents suspected in the deaths of two infant children in less than two years will remain in jail for now. But a missed indictment deadline could get Tyrone Scott and Salena Tyler released until they stand trial.
Scott, 36, and Tyler, 23, are charged with cruelty to children and concealing a death after their six-month-old son Samson was pronounced dead Oct. 18. Twenty months earlier, the couple was charged with murder and cruelty to children after their 13-month-old son Travis also died.
In the latest case, law enforcement were immediately familiar with the couple after completing an extensive investigation into Travis’ death, Assistant District Attorney Kyle Davis said at a Thursday bond hearing in Richmond County Superior Court.
The charges against Scott and Tyler had been dropped a month before Samson’s death, after an autopsy found the manner of Travis’ death to be undetermined, Davis said.
“Law enforcement was immediately familiar with these defendants as they had both been on bond for the death of another son of theirs, Travis Scott, who died in February of 2021,” he said.
Travis Scott had been born prematurely and had to be on a respirator at all times. Witnesses in that police investigation said Tyler had sometimes removed the ventilator and canceled his doctor’s appointments.
On Oct. 18, police were called to Augusta University Medical Center, where a nurse said the deceased baby’s temperature was only 95 degrees. This was despite the parents’ claim they’d left him unattended for only 45 minutes before finding him unresponsive on his back in a recliner, Davis said.
The child had been dead much longer, he said. Police searching their Harrisburg house found a roach-infested mess with moldy food on the stove and liquor bottles in the bed. The house reeked of marijuana, and drug-smoking devices were found next to the baby’s pacifier, he said.
The couple’s stories conflicted. Scott said he’d fed the baby and left him alone in the living room. Tyler said she’d fed the child and that the couple watched Netflix together for 45 minutes before finding him, Davis said.
Sheriff’s deputies were unable to locate the source of food the couple said they’d fed the child, and they admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana through the evening, he said.
Autopsy results were not back Thursday, Davis said.
Prosecutors objected to either getting a bond out of concern they will attempt to intimidate witnesses and obstruct the investigation.
“Both of these defendants are involved in the deaths of two minor children within a year of each other,” Davis said. “It is extremely coincidental that two deaths of two minor children occurred in the custody of these two parents within such a short period of time.”
Representing Scott, attorney Zachary Goolsby said the defendant is 36 and has two other children – 11 and 12 – “that are still alive and with us.” He has no record of involvement with child welfare agencies and had attended Benedict College for a year before leaving due to a football injury and related financial struggles, Goolsby said.
Scott has been self-employed as a handyman for James Key for “a very significant amount of time.” The Augusta businessman owns Parliament House as well as the couple’s former Watkins Street residence.
“He would have loved to live at the house where this incident occurred, but since this all has taken place, they’ve not been there and the place has been ransacked,” Goolsby said.
The couple hasn’t been charged with murder and have no infant children right now, the lawyer said.
Both Goolsby and Tyler’s attorney, Siobhan Hughley, said prosecutors had exceeded the 90-day window in which a defendant must be indicted after they’re taken into custody so should get a bond under a state law requirement.
The couple were booked into the jail Oct. 19. They were indicted 91 days later on Jan. 17, Hughley said. Davis said the days should start the day after the offense.
Hughley said her client had had several miscarriages and has no other children. She got a bond last time and did not violate it, and since the couple has already given statements, witness tampering shouldn’t be an issue, Hughley said.
Superior Court Judge John Flythe denied both a bond, but said the attorneys needed to explain their positions on the date issue in writing before he’d consider it further.
“If I’m obligated to grant a bond, then I will do so,” Flythe said.
