ROME, GA – The life of a young Tennessee woman met a violent end outside a Georgia apartment complex, where authorities allege she was brutally killed and left concealed beneath blankets. The victim, identified as 20-year-old Kaylee B. Shackelford of Powell, Tennessee, was found midday Tuesday near the intersection of Hull Avenue and Cedar Avenue, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
Investigators say Shackelford had traveled more than 160 miles from her home to Rome. According to police, she had been in a relationship with 23-year-old Mystique Malachi Amaziah Taylor, now the main suspect in her death. Authorities revealed that Taylor recently began an online relationship with another woman, Rolanda Monique Edwards, 25, further complicating the circumstances surrounding the case.
Witnesses reported seeing a red vehicle in the vicinity shortly before the body was discovered. This tip led officers to Bartow County, about 20 miles from the scene, where the vehicle was found, and both suspects were taken into custody after a brief pursuit.
Details from court proceedings indicate the attack was particularly brutal. Prosecutors allege Shackelford suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest, and face, and was also struck in the head with a baseball bat. The severity of the injuries highlights the violence she endured in her final moments. Authorities say her body was then left outside near the apartment complex, her remains covered by blankets.
Friends and family of Shackelford, shocked by her loss, remember her as a vibrant young woman with her life ahead of her. Police said neither Shackelford nor Taylor were from the Rome area, describing the crime as a tragic convergence far from the victim’s home.
Adding another layer to the tragedy, investigators announced Friday that Shackelford was pregnant at the time of her death. As a result, Taylor now faces an additional charge of feticide alongside charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and concealing a death.
Edwards, authorities allege, assisted Taylor in attempting to hide the crime and avoid apprehension. She faces charges related to her alleged involvement, including party to a crime, concealing the death of another, and hindering apprehension. Her bond has been set at $5,000, while Taylor remains in custody without bond.
As of Saturday, authorities have not released a possible motive for the fatal attack and continue investigating the circumstances that led up to Shackelford’s killing. The Rome Police Department is urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting local police as the community mourns the loss of Shackelford, who leaves behind grieving relatives still searching for answers.