Man, who believed his 36-year-old wife was having an affair with her co-worker so he stabbed her over 40 times after date-night while their thee children were sleeping, was convicted
Indiana – In a chilling case in Indiana, a 35-year-old man, identified as Taylor M., has been convicted of murder after authorities say he stabbed his 36-year-old wife, identified as Deborah M., more than 40 times while their three young children slept nearby. The deadly attack took place following a tense date night that the man had carefully planned in a last attempt to save their marriage—one he believed was falling apart because of an affair.
Taylor was found guilty by a jury after a six-day trial that ended with swift deliberations. He now faces life in prison for the February 2025 killing of his wife, Deborah, inside their home. Sentencing is scheduled for February 20. According to police and court records, the murder unfolded after Taylor grew increasingly convinced that Deborah was involved with a male coworker. In the weeks leading up to the attack, he told investigators he had seen a photo of her holding hands with the man—a moment that planted the seed for what became a deadly obsession.
On February 14, Taylor arranged what he believed would be a romantic “Bringing Paris to you” evening at home. He had their children, all under the age of five, draw Eiffel Tower-themed decorations, and he prepared dinner with hopes of rekindling the relationship. But when Deborah’s reaction didn’t match his expectations, he snapped. Taylor told detectives during his confession, “It was the hardest I’ve ever tried… She just didn’t give a s—.” After dinner, an argument broke out. Taylor said his wife left the house for about 20 minutes—coinciding with her coworker’s work shift ending. Feeling abandoned once again, he stewed in anger until she returned. While she was in the bathroom, Taylor attempted to check her messages through her smartwatch. When she came out, he demanded her cell phone, and a physical fight followed.
In a recorded interview, Taylor admitted that his wife struck him first and he responded by taking her phone and telling her, “I’m stronger than you.” As tensions escalated, he claimed she hit him with a water bottle, and he retaliated with a wine bottle before turning to the kitchen to grab what he described as a “big a— kitchen knife, a long one.” According to the probable cause affidavit, Deborah begged him to stop. “What are you going to do, kill me? You’re going to hurt me and leave our kids with no parents?” she asked him, just moments before the fatal attack.
Taylor said he pinned her to the floor and continued to choke her. Then, as she lay either unconscious or near death, he went into the kitchen, retrieved the knife, and stabbed her over 40 times in the chest. What followed was even more disturbing: Taylor used Deborah’s phone to send a photo of her lifeless body to the man he believed she was seeing. The image was captioned “Your fault.”
Police were first alerted when a man who had received a call from Deborah’s phone heard her screaming in the background. The same man drove to the couple’s Westwood Drive home and met officers outside. While there, he received the photo message, prompting police to force entry. Inside, they found Deborah’s body and the couple’s three children asleep. Taylor was described as aggressive during his arrest and had to be restrained using “control techniques,” police said. The medical examiner confirmed that Deborah had suffered at least 40 stab wounds.
Now convicted, Taylor will remain in the county jail until his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors painted the case as one of premeditated rage, while the defense tried to portray it as a sudden, emotional outburst. The jury didn’t hesitate in reaching its verdict. As the community looks ahead to the sentencing, the legacy of that Valentine’s night remains: three children left without a mother, a family torn apart, and a case that highlights the tragic cost of unchecked jealousy and escalating domestic violence.
