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In an encore airing of 20/20, the show revisits the chilling case of Laura Day, convicted of capital murder in the 2012 drowning death of her 6-year-old stepson, Taylor Syring. Originally broadcast in 2022, the episode delves into the harrowing events that led to Day's life sentence without parole.
Despite nearly a decade behind bars, Laura Day maintains her innocence, claiming that Taylor's drowning was a tragic accident and not a premeditated act. Laura Day's case remains controversial, with many questions about her motives and actions on that fateful day. Investigators found several inconsistencies in her story, including why she drove 12 miles to a hospital instead of seeking immediate help nearby.
This episode of ABC's 20/20 explores these discrepancies, Day's criminal past, shedding light on one of the most heart-wrenching cases of recent years.
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During the 20/20 interview, she said,
"I tried to get the water out of his lungs. And it just wasn't coming out. I didn't know why. I panicked. And I was disoriented. I wasn't thinking clearly."
Exploring the chilling case of Laura Day and the drowning death of her stepson on 20/20
On the tragic day, Laura Day picked up Taylor from school and they decided to go to the beach. Day recounted that Taylor wanted to have a picnic on the beach, leading them to drive home to pick up bathing suits and beach towels before heading to a more secluded area of the beach to avoid crowds.
She placed a lifejacket on Taylor, but later removed it when it caused a rash. According to Day, she briefly turned away, and when she looked back, Taylor was gone. She claimed she found him floating face down in the water, tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate him, and panicked.
She revealed on 20/20,
"It was giving him a rash, clearly. I said, 'If you can show me that you're OK and you feel safe enough to dive under the waves and you feel comfortable, then I'll let you swim and play in the shallow water, without your lifejacket.'"
She the said,
"At first, I didn't understand. I thought maybe he'd dived under the waves and he was swimming, but then I realized he didn't surface and I ran in the water to where he was and he was gone... And then I saw him floating, face down."
Instead of calling 911, Day decided to drive the unconscious Taylor to a hospital 12 miles away, passing a closer fire station. At the hospital, Taylor was pronounced dead. Her failure to call emergency services and the inconsistencies in her timeline raised suspicions among investigators.
They found it improbable that she would not have noticed Taylor in distress sooner if she had been as close as she claimed. Additionally, her calm demeanor at the hospital and her failure to administer CPR were seen as troubling signs.
Investigation and conviction of Laura Day in 20/20
The police officers did not believe Day’s story at all because it contained many inconsistencies. What made them doubt her even further was why, instead of making a few calls or going over to a fire station nearby, she drove for hours searching for a medical facility located far away from where they were at that time.
Moreover, according to another eyewitness, while driving away, they saw the young boy’s body in Day’s car and reported that the woman was smiling and waving to her. Her failure to administer CPR despite knowing how to do it also raised more doubt. These inconsistencies, along with her criminal history, led to her arrest and conviction for capital murder.
Laura Day's troubling past and the trial explored on 20/20
Laura Day's criminal record painted a troubling picture. Previously convicted of second-degree murder at 17, she had also been involved in theft, fraud, burglary, and bigamy. Prosecutors argued that these past actions demonstrated a pattern of deceit and violence.
Despite Day's claims of loving Taylor like her own child, the jury found her guilty after a six-day trial, resulting in a life sentence without parole. She has appealed her conviction, seeking a new trial, but remains incarcerated as the legal process continues. Laura Day continues to assert her innocence, supported by some who believe Taylor's death was an accident. Her appellate attorney has challenged the prosecution's evidence, presenting experts who argue that the drowning could have occurred as Day described.
Despite these efforts, Day remains in prison, awaiting a possible new trial. Her former husband, David Syring, who initially supported her, now believes she belongs in prison, reflecting on the manipulation he experienced.
Interested viewers can stream the 20/20 episode on Laura Day on Hulu or Fubo TV.
