MURDER
CASE #: 1981-16
Donald Archie Taylor
Also Known As:
"Don"
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Killeen, Texas
Summary:
On 05/19/1981, Staff Sergeant Donald Taylor had not shown up to his military unit on Fort Hood. His unit sent a member of his unit to locate him at his apartment located at 808 N. 2nd Street. The military member contacted the property manager, and both went to the apartment and discovered the door ajar. Upon further inspection, the door was unsecured, and the property manager discovered Taylor deceased in the bathtub. An autopsy later confirmed Taylor was shot with a handgun.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
05/15/1981 Taylor was last seen by his unit around 3 pm. Taylor was in the process of divorcing his wife of 24 years. They were separated at the time of his death. Taylor had a relationship with a girlfriend at the time, and were living separately locally. 02/12/1981 Taylor had recently obtained a $25,000 life insurance policy in the name of girlfriend. Taylor was estranged from his wife who lived in Carrollton, Texas at the time.
Additional Details:
05/08/1981 Victim and his girlfriend filled out power of attorney paper work in the event either passsed first. 05/16/1981 Girlfriend last spoke with victim. Victim told her he had "compnay" which was code for his wife was in town visiting.
Case Last Updated:
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Share what you learnTimeline of Events
Representative from unit and landlord discover Taylor.
Wife calls Taylor's unit again. The staff duty reports that Taylor has not been in today or yesterday either.
Co-worker says he speaks with Mrs. Taylor who is ascertaining her husbands whereabouts.
Wife says she still had not received a call from Taylor.
Co-Worker stops by Taylor's apartment and knocks-no answer.
Wife says she call Taylor's unit to speak with him. She is told he is out for the day-not unusual as sometimes messages were not relayed.
Co-worker says that he gets to work and discovers that Mrs. Taylor had been trying to contact him all night.
Taylor goes to his office on Fort Hood for about one hour.
Wife says she arrives back in Carrollton.
Wife leaves Killeen to return to Carrollton.
Taylor wakes from a nap, he and wife walk to store for groceries.
Girlfriend called Taylor asking if he could still help, Taylor told her he could'nt because he had "unexpected company" referring to his wife.
Taylor's wife arrives in Killeen, meets Taylor at his apartment.
Taylor gets off staff duty in the morning.
Girlfriend said Taylor spoke with her on the phone. She asked if he could come over on Saturday to move more furniture.
Taylor was on staff duty at his unit from 8 a.m. to the following day 8 a.m.
Taylor helped his girlfriend move furniture at her residence.
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