Alice Vest
Steven Richard Taylor
Summary of Offense:
Steven Taylor was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Alice Vest. Vest arrived at her mobile home around 11:30 p.m. on September 15, 1990. Near midnight, Taylor and Gerald Murray, Taylor’s codefendant, were dropped off close to the victim’s neighborhood after riding around listening to the radio with a third person. During the early morning of September 16, 1990, a Ford Ranchero was reported missing from the same area. A passerby reported seeing the automobile near Vest’s home at around 4:30 a.m. that morning. The automobile was found behind a car dealership near Taylor’s residence later in the day on September 16, 1990.
On the morning of September 16, 1990, a neighbor found the body of Vest in her bedroom. According to the medical examiner, Vest had been sexually assaulted. She had also been stabbed approximately 20 times with a knife and a pair of scissors that were found at the scene. The medical examiner determined that Vest was strangled after the stabbing. In addition to the other injuries, the medical examiner found that Vest had suffered head injuries and a fractured jaw. The medical examiner determined that the fractured jaw was probably due to being hit with a bottle and the other head injuries were probably due to being struck with a metal bar and candlestick. The bottle, metal bar and candlestick were all found at the scene. The medical examiner also found bruises on her breasts. According to trial testimony, the phone line had been severed. Trial testimony further revealed that Vest’s home had been burglarized and that jewelry was missing.
In December 1990, Taylor moved out the duplex that he had been living in with a roommate. Taylor’s former roommate removed a fence from the property the following month. While removing the fence, he found a bag that was buried and contained jewelry. The former roommate gave the jewelry to the police and made a statement. It was determined that the jewelry was taken from Vest’s home the night of the burglary and murder.
In January 1991, Taylor accompanied by friends returned to the duplex to visit his former roommate. The former roommate observed Taylor go into the backyard and look at the area from which he had previously removed the fence. The next month, Taylor and his friends again visited Taylor’s former roommate. Taylor walked into the backyard to the area where the fence had previously stood. One of the individuals, who had arrived at the duplex with Taylor, testified that Taylor come in from the backyard with dirt on his hands. He further testified that when he questioned Taylor about what he was doing, Taylor said he was looking for something that was not where he had left it.
On February 14, 1991, the Duval County Sheriff’s Office, authorized by a search warrant and acquired blood, saliva and hair samples from Taylor. After the samples were taken, Taylor asked one of the officers how long before the results would be ready. The officer inquired into why Taylor wanted to know. Taylor replied that he wanted to know when they would be coming to get him. An analyst from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement testified that the semen found on Vest’s clothing matched Taylor’s DNA profile.
Timothy Cowart, who had occupied the same cell as Taylor, testified at the trial. According to Cowart, Taylor said that he been part of a burglary that had gone badly. Taylor said that he and an accomplice had been robbing a mobile home when the owner arrived home and that he had stabbed and choked her. Taylor also claimed to have strangled the victim to ensure that she was dead. Furthermore, Cowart said that Taylor claimed that the prosecution had enough evidence against him to secure a conviction. Cowart also claimed that Taylor asked for his assistance in an escape plan.
Taylor was sentenced to death in Duval County on December 9, 1991.
Co-defendant information:
Gerald Murray (DC# 291140) was convicted of first-degree murder, burglary and sexual assault with a weapon. He was sentenced to death for the first-degree murder conviction on April 15, 1994. Murray also received a life sentence on April 15, 1994 for each conviction of burglary and sexual assault. For more on Murray, see: http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...rida-Death-Row
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