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Date of Sentence: 12/09/91
Circumstances 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 09/15/90. Near midnight, Taylor and Gerald Murray,
Taylor’s codefendent, 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 09/16/90, 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 09/16/90.
On the morning of 09/16/90, a
neighbor found the body of Vest in her bedroom. According to the
medical examiner, Vest was sexually assaulted. She also was 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 02/14/91, 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.
Additional Information:
Codefendant Status: Gerald
Murray (DC# 291140)
Murray 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 4/15/94.
Murray also received a life sentence on 4/15/94 for each conviction of
Burglary and Sexual Assault.
*****
Trial Summary:
02/16/91 Taylor was arrested.
09/12/91 Taylor was indicted on the following counts:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder (Alice
Vest)
Count II: Burglary of an
Occupied Dwelling
Count III: Sexual Battery
with Deadly Weapon
10/10/91 Taylor was found guilty on all counts charged in the
indictment.
10/17/91 Upon
advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 10 to 2 majority, voted for the
death penalty.
12/09/91 Taylor was sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder (Alice
Vest) – Death
Count II: Burglary of an
Occupied Dwelling – 15 Years
Count III: Sexual Battery
with Deadly Weapon – 27 Years
*****
Case Information:
Taylor filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on
12/16/91. The issues addressed included that the trial court erred in
not suppressing Taylor’s conversation with a police officer after the
DNA samples were taken and after Taylor invoked his right to remain
silent and his right to counsel. Taylor further contended that the
trial court erred in admitting evidence that the stolen Ford Ranchero
was seen near the Vest’s home and then found near Taylor’s residence, in
admitting cumulative photographs of Vest’s body because they created a
prejudicial effect and in finding the murder to be heinous, atrocious or
cruel. Taylor also argued that the trial court erred in admitting
testimony about Taylor’s plan to attempt an escape.
The Florida Supreme
Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or
sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentence on 12/16/93.
Rehearing was denied on 02/10/94. A mandate was issued on 03/14/94.
On
05/11/94, Taylor filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United
States Supreme Court. The petition was denied on 10/03/94.
Taylor filed a 3.850 Motion in the circuit court on 11/01/95. Amended
3.850 Motion was filed on 06/23/03 and 05/13/04. The motion is pending.
FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us
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