ROME, Ga. — When 20-year-old Kaylee B. Shackelford failed to answer calls from family late last week, loved ones felt uneasy — a feeling that turned to tragedy when her body was discovered wrapped in blankets near the John Graham Homes community on the east side of Rome Tuesday afternoon.
Police and first responders were dispatched to the quiet neighborhood shortly after reports of something amiss, and what they found devastated everyone involved: Shackelford, originally from Powell, Tennessee, was dead, her young life cut brutally short.
Investigators say the circumstances surrounding her death were shocking. Court warrants allege that 23-year-old Mystique Malachi Amaziah Taylor, who had been in a relationship with Shackelford, stabbed her in the face and neck before striking her head repeatedly with a baseball bat. As authorities continue to piece together the final hours of her life, they’ve now added a feticide charge against Taylor, indicating that Shackelford may have been pregnant at the time of the attack.
Moments after Shackelford’s body was found, witnesses reported seeing a red car in the vicinity. That vehicle was later spotted fleeing the area, leading to a high-speed pursuit that spanned into Bartow County. Rome police used spike strips to halt the vehicle, ultimately taking Taylor into custody along with 25-year-old Rolanda Monique Edwards, who faces charges for helping to conceal the death and assist in moving Shackelford’s body following the attack.
In court appearances this week, a judge denied bond for Taylor on multiple counts including two charges of felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and reckless driving. Edwards, accused of being a party to the crime and attempting to hide evidence, was released on a $5,000 bond under strict conditions prohibiting contact with Taylor.
Police believe that the relationship between Shackelford and Taylor had grown troubled and that Taylor had begun an online relationship with Edwards, complicating an already tragic situation. Neighbors say the normally quiet community was shaken by the violence, with many struggling to reconcile the image of a smiling young woman with the grim reality of how her life ended.
The Rome Police Department continues to investigate, urging anyone with information to come forward through Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta, which is offering a cash reward for tips that can help bring full justice in this case. Shackelford’s family, friends, and community members are left to mourn, clinging to memories of her bright spirit and the hopes she had for the future.
