Immobile and mentally disabled 43-year-old man strangled to death by his 54-year-old uncle, who was his caregiver in their shared home; uncle receives harsh sentence
Chicago, Illinois – A 54-year-old caregiver from Illinois, D. Taylor, has been sentenced to a 50-year prison term for the murder of his blind and immobile nephew, D. Scott. The brutal act, committed within the confines of their shared home, occurred amidst the global turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 26, 2020.
Taylor, who was the primary caregiver and uncle of the 43-year-old victim, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder earlier this year. The Attorney’s Office disclosed that Taylor strangled his nephew in what has been described as a “particularly disturbing” manner. This act of violence not only ended Scott’s life but also left deep emotional scars on the family, as Taylor’s wife discovered her nephew’s lifeless body in a bedroom of their home.
Following his heinous act, Taylor attempted to evade justice. He turned off his phone to avoid detection and surreptitiously withdrew cash from his wife’s bank account. Further demonstrating his intent to flee, Taylor purchased a one-way train ticket from Chicago to Michigan. However, his plan to escape was futile; despite his attempts to resist extradition, authorities apprehended him in Michigan.
The details that emerged from the postmortem examination performed by the coroner’s office were chilling. The examination revealed a deep tissue hemorrhage around Scott’s hyoid bone, consistent with manual strangulation, and a healed fracture around the thyroid cartilage that indicated a previous strangulation attempt.
On the day of sentencing, presided over by Judge B. Telander, the gravity of Taylor’s betrayal was underscored by State’s Attorney R. Berlin. “Mr. Taylor was responsible for the safety and wellbeing of Damian,” Berlin stated. He emphasized the horrific nature of the crime, highlighting that Taylor’s role was to protect his nephew, not end his life.
With Taylor now facing 50 years behind bars, the likelihood of him ever experiencing freedom again is slim, as he would be over 100 years old by the time he is eligible for release. The sentence reflects both the severity of the crime and the breach of trust involved in this tragic case. The victim’s family is left to grapple with the harsh reality of a caregiver who crossed the line from protector to predator, committing an unforgivable act against a vulnerable member of his own family.
