ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Police in St. Petersburg announced Friday night that the search for a missing 2-year-old was halted when officers pulled his body from the mouth of an alligator at a lake six miles from the apartment complex where he lived.

Taylen Mosley hadn't been seen since Wednesday, and the child’s mother, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffrey, was found dead Thursday afternoon in her apartment at Lincoln Shores in the 11600 block of 4th Street North. 

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway announced the discovery at Lake Maggoire during a Friday night press conference.

He said that officers were at a lake investigating the child's disappearance when they saw an alligator with an "object" in its mouth. They fired a single shot into the alligator, causing it to drop the object, "and we were able to retrieve Taylen's body intact," Holloway said.

He said the child's father, 21-year-old Thomas Mosley, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with Taylen and Jeffrey's deaths.

Holloway said that Jeffrey had been stabbed multiple times when she was found.

Holloway said on Friday afternoon that Thomas Mosley was refusing to speak with police. 
 

Family members told police they saw the little boy and his mom at their apartment in Lincoln Shores around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

On Thursday afternoon, family members called the apartment manager saying they had not heard from Jeffrey. When they went to check on her, they found her dead inside and no sign of the toddler..

According to authorities, neighbors said they heard a commotion coming from Jeffrey’s apartment on Wednesday night, but no one called police.

Police said they believe Jeffrey was killed inside of her apartment. Authorities said forensic crews are working inside of the apartment and fire department dive teams are checking ponds in and around the apartment complex.

Holloway said authorities do not know for sure if Taylen was home at the time of his mother's death. 

State and federal agencies participated in the search for the child.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police at 727-893-7780 or dial 911.

Pashun’s family has started a GoFundMe for funeral arrangements.