05-14-2014, 02:06 PM
GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND ABDUCTION
Even without her body being found, prosecutors were quick to charge and try Randy Allen Taylor with the abduction and murder of Alexis Murphy based on circumstantial evidence. Relieved. Had the jury found him "not guilty" the state wouldn't have been able to try him again later if her body is recovered.
Prosecutors claim that Taylor lured Alexis from the gas station where they were both captured on surveillance cam and then killed her. Taylor maintains his innocence -- he says he sold her drugs but she was fine when he left his trailer and she was hanging out there with some other dude.
The evidence:
A strand of hair, a diamond stud, a human nail, a bloodstained t-shirt of Taylor's, and hair and eyelash extensions - all found in Taylor's small camper about a mile north of the gas station on U.S. 29.
Her smashed cell phone, which family members said she never parted with, was found within 100 feet of the camper. The phone's last known activity was traced to the immediate vicinity of the camper shortly after 7 p.m. Aug. 3.
Taylor initially told law enforcement prior to his Aug. 11 arrest he had not seen Murphy that night. After he was confronted with DNA evidence, he said she was there with a male friend named Dameon Bradley, but no harm came to her.
Investigators ruled out Bradley as a suspect and prosecutor Martin said the allegations were "absolutely ridiculous" and concocted by a proven liar. Martin said Taylor acted on sexual urges, killed Murphy and successfully disposed of her body.
![[Image: 49A572CDFAA241CAA143C0F7D56EE222_5.jpg]](http://gray-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pvw/49A/572/49A572CDFAA241CAA143C0F7D56EE222_5.jpg)
On Aug. 5, two days after she disappeared, investigators placed Taylor under constant surveillance. Witnesses placed him at Applebee's in Charlottesville at 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 (he has a distinctive Daffy Duck tattoo on his neck, pictured above), minutes after a surveillance video captured the image of her car being parked in a nearby movie theater parking, though the driver could not be seen. A short time later, Taylor took a cab back to Nelson County.
Taylor darted out of the courtroom during the victim impact statements and sentencing recommendation phase of the trial -- he later said he was floored by the verdict and that he didn't kill anybody.
The maximum punishment Taylor faces is life in prison on each charge and a combined minimum of 40 years in prison. After deliberating for 20 minutes, the jury returned to recommend Taylor serve two life sentences. He was not present when the recommendations were read in court.
Taylor's sentencing is set for July 23 at 1:30 p.m. in Nelson County Circuit Court.
The prosecutor said he did not seek a death penalty because of the lack of a body. Trina Murphy, Alexis's great-aunt who speaks on the family's behalf, said not seeking the death penalty was a decision the family supported. She considers life in prison as a death sentence. "I really feel a needle in the arm is too good for him," she said.
Ref:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest...f6878.html
I think Taylor also killed Samantha Clarke -- she was with Taylor before she "disappeared" a few years back; no body has been found. If he killed and disposed of Clarke, hoping LE someday has enough evidence to charge Taylor with her murder also.
Even without her body being found, prosecutors were quick to charge and try Randy Allen Taylor with the abduction and murder of Alexis Murphy based on circumstantial evidence. Relieved. Had the jury found him "not guilty" the state wouldn't have been able to try him again later if her body is recovered.
Prosecutors claim that Taylor lured Alexis from the gas station where they were both captured on surveillance cam and then killed her. Taylor maintains his innocence -- he says he sold her drugs but she was fine when he left his trailer and she was hanging out there with some other dude.
The evidence:
A strand of hair, a diamond stud, a human nail, a bloodstained t-shirt of Taylor's, and hair and eyelash extensions - all found in Taylor's small camper about a mile north of the gas station on U.S. 29.
Her smashed cell phone, which family members said she never parted with, was found within 100 feet of the camper. The phone's last known activity was traced to the immediate vicinity of the camper shortly after 7 p.m. Aug. 3.
Taylor initially told law enforcement prior to his Aug. 11 arrest he had not seen Murphy that night. After he was confronted with DNA evidence, he said she was there with a male friend named Dameon Bradley, but no harm came to her.
Investigators ruled out Bradley as a suspect and prosecutor Martin said the allegations were "absolutely ridiculous" and concocted by a proven liar. Martin said Taylor acted on sexual urges, killed Murphy and successfully disposed of her body.
On Aug. 5, two days after she disappeared, investigators placed Taylor under constant surveillance. Witnesses placed him at Applebee's in Charlottesville at 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 (he has a distinctive Daffy Duck tattoo on his neck, pictured above), minutes after a surveillance video captured the image of her car being parked in a nearby movie theater parking, though the driver could not be seen. A short time later, Taylor took a cab back to Nelson County.
Taylor darted out of the courtroom during the victim impact statements and sentencing recommendation phase of the trial -- he later said he was floored by the verdict and that he didn't kill anybody.
The maximum punishment Taylor faces is life in prison on each charge and a combined minimum of 40 years in prison. After deliberating for 20 minutes, the jury returned to recommend Taylor serve two life sentences. He was not present when the recommendations were read in court.
Taylor's sentencing is set for July 23 at 1:30 p.m. in Nelson County Circuit Court.
The prosecutor said he did not seek a death penalty because of the lack of a body. Trina Murphy, Alexis's great-aunt who speaks on the family's behalf, said not seeking the death penalty was a decision the family supported. She considers life in prison as a death sentence. "I really feel a needle in the arm is too good for him," she said.
Ref:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest...f6878.html
I think Taylor also killed Samantha Clarke -- she was with Taylor before she "disappeared" a few years back; no body has been found. If he killed and disposed of Clarke, hoping LE someday has enough evidence to charge Taylor with her murder also.