ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) – The parents of a baby who was decapitated during birth at a Georgia hospital were awarded over $2.2 million by a grand jury in a lawsuit against the doctor they hired for an autopsy after photos of it were posted online.
The lawsuit claimed Dr. Jackson Gates, who was hired by the couple to do a private autopsy on Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr. after he was decapitated during birth, uploaded a video of it to his public social media page without permission.
The lawsuit claims there was an invasion of privacy and that emotional distress and fraud were intentionally inflicted on the couple.
“The child got decapitated. This young couple just suffered one of the worst losses any human beings could ever, ever suffer.” – Family attorney
Gates told WANF last year that he did not identify the baby and only posted the images on his Instagram page for educational purposes.
In a statement after the verdict Wednesday, attorneys said they were pleased with the outcome.
The couple’s attorneys said in a statement.
“While we are pleased that a jury punished Dr. Jackson Gates for his reprehensible behavior, nothing can ease the pain that the parents, Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., have experienced in losing their baby boy in such a horrific way.”
The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the baby’s death a homicide. The hospital claimed the baby died in utero.
The attorneys continued:
“After the decapitation of their baby, Gates poured salt into the couple’s already deep wounds when he betrayed them.
“This young couple trusted him with the remains of their precious baby. Gates, in turn, repaid this trust by posting horrific images of their child for the world to see.”
