Tulsa Police continue to investigate the death of 2 year old boy

Tulsa Police and EMSA crews found 2-year-old Keenan Taylor early Thursday evening, badly burned, vomiting and going into convulsions. He died on the way to the hospital. His mother, who didn't have

Friday, June 10th 2005, 10:34 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police and EMSA crews found 2-year-old Keenan Taylor early Thursday evening, badly burned, vomiting and going into convulsions. He died on the way to the hospital. His mother, who didn't have custody of Keenan, says he was a bright, lovable boy.

Tammy Taylor says she was planning Keenan's third birthday party when she heard on television that he was dead. "And she said, 'You need to watch the news. There's a kid that got burnt.' And I'm like, 'No.' because I'm thinking it had been handled. I called and I'm thinking someone went over there, investigated and my baby was going to be okay. I thought it was going to be okay."

Tammy Taylor lost custody of Keenan in December after she was arrested for drug use. Her family is planning Keenan's funeral for Monday afternoon.

Tulsa Police are still investigating Keenan's death. His father claims the boy was severely burned with boiling water in an accident, but detectives suspect otherwise.

News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says Keenan's grandparents talk about why their son took so long to get help. â€œHe said Keenan is hurt and I'm scared, I said, what happened? He said, last night he got burned and now he said he's breathing funny. I said Carlis, hang up the phone, dial 911, I'm on my way." By the time Phyllis Ball got to her son's apartment, paramedics and police were already there.

Before he even made it to the hospital, her grandson was dead. â€œHeâ€™s a wonderful little boy, a wonderful little grandson that we had and he's a great loss to us and I feel in my heart, we hurt now over him, but we're also hurting for the father too."

24-year old Carlis Ball was arrested for failing to seek medical attention for his severely burned 2-year old son for almost 24 hours. Ball's parents say their son simply made an error in judgment, that he didn't realize how bad the burns were. But Tulsa Police say the child was so severely injured that there's no way any reasonable person wouldn't seek help. They say even after Ball tried to wipe off the boy's blisters with a towel and his skin came off, he still didn't call 911.

When the Department of Human Services put Keenan in his father's care last December, Carlis Ball was already a single parent to three other children. Tulsa Police say there was no reason to suspect Ball's ability as a father. Phyllis Ball: "In my heart, I feel my son made a mistake and it was a pure accident."

Tulsa Police disagree. Investigators the News on 6, the injuries are not consistent with the boiling water accidentally being spilled on the child. Ball is still in custody. Police are now waiting for the medical examiner's report to confirm whether Keenan shows signs of earlier abuse.