Bio

William K. Taylor was born on September 8, 1958. He grew up in a time and place that shaped who he would become. Details about his childhood and family life are not widely known. However, it is important to note that over the years, he faced several legal issues.

In 1976, when he was still a young adult, he committed serious crimes in Delaware. He shot a woman and assaulted another person. As a result of these actions, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. After serving time, he was released but continued to have run-ins with the law.

In 1977, under a different name, Mark Levy, he lived in Elko County, Nevada. Unfortunately, he committed more crimes, which included assaulting and burglarizing a female coworker. These patterns of behavior suggested he had trouble following the law even after spending many years in prison.

In 1985, he was arrested again in Florida. This time, he faced charges for burglary and assault. He received two years for one crime and one year for another. These incidents demonstrated that Taylor struggled with criminal behavior throughout his life.

Despite his difficult past, the specific details of his early life remain unclear. What is known is that his history of violence and legal issues followed him into adulthood, leading him to a life marked by serious crimes.

Murder Story

William K. Taylor murdered Sandra Kushmer on May 25, 2001, in Hillsborough County, Florida. Taylor met Sandra and her brother, Billy D. Maddox, at Harry's Bar in Riverview. He knew Sandra from school and decided to rob them after noticing her brother buying expensive drinks and leaving generous tips.

Taylor took Sandra and Billy to their mother's house. Inside, he attacked them. He hit Sandra in the head and shot her in the face with a shotgun. Afterward, he severely beat Billy, who suffered multiple skull fractures and sustained lasting brain damage from the beating.

Following the attack, Taylor attempted to hide his actions. He washed his bloody clothes, pawned the shotgun, and used the Maddox's credit cards to make purchases. He also tried to cash one of Billy's checks. Taylor then fled to Memphis, Tennessee, where he assumed Billy's identity and continued using the stolen financial information.

Taylor was later arrested in Memphis. During the investigation, he gave varying accounts of the events that occurred. At one point, he claimed his wife, Lorena Taylor, and an accomplice named Jose Arano were involved in the crime, but neither was charged.

Taylor faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and robbery with a deadly weapon. His first trial ended in a mistrial. However, a retrial took place, and he was found guilty on several counts, including first-degree murder. On September 29, 2004, he was sentenced to death.