Alexis Murphy Missing: Suspect Randy Allen Taylor Arrested For Abduction Under Investigation For Possible Serial Abduction and Murder With Ties Also To Samantha Clarke and Alicia Showalter Reynolds
Nelson County, VA-
Randolph Taylor
Announced this morning by Virginia Commonwealth Attorney an arrest has been made in the abduction of missing Lovington woman Alexis Murphy.
Randolph Allen Taylor, is being held in Albemarle County Jail on a kidnapping charge.
Murphy’s vehicle was found over the weekend in a Charlottesville Carmike parking lot near her job at a consignment boutique, Murphy has not been located and was last seen at a gas station approximately 39 miles away.
Taylor was the recent recipient of vacated charges when Green County, VA Major Randy Snead authorized the placement of a GPS, without a warrant, under Taylor’s 1993 Gran Marquis while investigating his association to another missing woman- Samantha Clarke.
Snead was exonerated in any wrongdoing after he chased a 19 year old man who had stolen a deputies vehicle out of his jurisdiction and was part of over twenty officer’s responsible for shooting the suspect, Colby Eppard.
The FBI is also looking for a GMC Suburban which is also associated with Randy Taylor.
During today’s press conference, Richmond FBI Chief announced that law enforcement will not be commenting on reports of Taylor’s suspect status in other possibly related unsolved cases, however, www.blinkoncrime has learned that at the top of the possible case list is the unsolved abduction and murder of Alicia Showalter Reynolds. Taylor bears a strikingly similar resemblance to the sketch generated in Reynolds disappearance and murder.
1996 Showalter Suspect
Two unsolved murders in 1996 Shenandoah National Park, Julianne Williams and Lollie Winans which resulted in a 2002 indictment against Darrell Rice ended in the withdrawal of same in 2004 due to a DNA profile found that did not match Rice. It is not known if police are investigating any potential involvement by Taylor in that case.
Although Virginia State Police and the FBI have a DNA match to whom they believe is responsible for the assault and murder of Morgan Harrington after she was denied re-entry into a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones arena- which matches a composite sketch of an African American man also wanted for a sexual assault in 2005 in Fairfax, sources inside Harrington’s unsolved murder case have confirmed that they have been asked to look into any similarities.
This is a developing story, please check back to blinkoncrime.com as more details become available.
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http://www.readthehook.com/109994/where-are-they-two-missing-girls-one-suspect
Where are they? Two missing girls, one suspect
snip>
across at least 3 states is ID change, failure to produce ID, expired registrations and things that are common when folks do not want a paper trail of them, or fear their are outstanding warrants.
**************************************************
Blink,
Are you able to tell us what/which states?
So far- VA, FL and SC.
B
I just heard on the NPR news that Randy Taylor was seen at the Lovingston gas station where Alexis Murphy was seen, apparently at about the same time. They were NOT together.
That’s the first time I have heard that.
Here’s the story on NBC 29:
http://www.nbc29.com/story/23123685/update-randy-taylor-appears-in-court-for-advisement-hearing
I see that this information came out in court today. Taylor was caught on the Liberty gas station surveillance video, as was Murphy.
I was curious about the arson charge. Was the charge relating to torching a car for insurance money or to destroying evidence relating to something else. Also, will we find out what was removed from this man’s home and auto? Good to have you back, Blink. Boy, it’s been a boring summer just waiting for your return. Hope family and new dog are all well!
Forgive me for any typos- I’ve got a 15 mo old baby snoozing in my left Arm (I’m left handed)
Question:
FFX Sketch….do we know his race from his DNA profile or because the victim said he was black or both?
And did they say what warranted this dudes arrest? His print or DNA in this girls car? I read back through and didn’t see.
If this guy has been arrested so many times without ever having to submit DNA..no matter what alias, I’m gonna be pissed.
B, is there a WordPress iPhone app that I can read comment replies thru? I need to investigate. I can’t stand not being able to keep tabs.
Clarification/ I’m using my right hand to type on an iPhone…typos galore
Blink, why are all my comments awaiting moderation?
(Way above from Aug. 12th also.)
Approved. Fast moving thread, click on older comments?
B
Parker Slaybaugh, from abc13 just announced that investigators told him they aren’t certain Randy Taylor acted alone..blink, do you have any thoughts on this based on RT’s profile?
yes, I don’t believe he acted alone.
B
Oh God, there are more people associated with him stil out there?
Dr. Pepper…hey there..are you a new proud mama..if so congrats galore. Sketch’s DNA was some type including AA…I have wondered if reluctance on LE part to releasing it was because it looked to AA. This would only be MOO on reluctances part.
They have not released any forensic evidence as to why they arrested RT. We do not know anything about fingerprints, DNA, Phone info etc. They may have pings of her phone near his home. They do I believe have evidence he was seen at the Liberty Gas Station at the same time Alexis was there and perhaps following her out of the station. I have a feeling his arrest in the past were prior to required DNA for certain offenses.
according to LE, alexis and RT were both seen on the surveillance video at the gas station around the same time, but not together. if he had an accomplice, i bet it was someone closer to Alexis’ age who she might have been talking to at the gas pump that she wouldn’t necessarily think of as “creepy”….i think i should just go to bed, this case is making my head spin! could the accomplice, if there was one, be the man in the composite sketch who was linked by DNA to Morgan Harrington’s crime scene?
Blink, Thx for working on this case. Not sure if it’s reliable, but this article says Taylor was incarcerated June 1993 – September
1996, which would have been while Alicia Showalter Reynolds was killed. So sad he could not have been stopped sooner.
http://m.insidenova.com/mobile/news/crime_police/updated-alexis-murphy-abduction-revives-interest-in-unsolved-cases/article_252d9606-02de-11e3-ae2e-0019bb2963f4.html
“As investigators dive into Taylor’s past, they’ve learned there’s one thing he is not – the ’29 Stalker.’ Taylor’s police mugshot taken after his arrest Sunday bears some resemblance to a 1996 composite sketch of the ’29 Stalker,’ a moniker given the killer who murdered 25-year-old Alicia Showalter Reynolds. Reynolds was abducted in Culpeper County while driving to Charlottesville on U.S. 29 on March 2, 1996. Her remains were found two months later in a remote logging community in Culpeper. Taylor, however, was incarcerated in Virginia Beach in June 1993 after being convicted of burglary and grand larceny. He remained in prison, transferred among three correctional centers, until Sept. 20, 1996, records show.”
Also, Blink, I read the story from The Hook that portrays him as a victim of police tactics. He seemed to have volunteered to be photographed in a full-length shot that showed his very visible neck tatoo. What does this say about him from a profiler’s view?
The Hook has the damage control piece link upthread- in response. Now it is Randy burst into the Hook offices and told the story of his righteous indignation ( my words- you get the idea).
Mr. Taylor has a series of tats, that upon my observation, are not at all prison tats, but from a proff artist.
The daffy duck tat on the right, I believe was an intentional message.
B
http://www.readthehook.com/109994/where-are-they-two-missing-girls-one-suspect
“Last fall, a seemingly outraged citizen walked into the Hook office portraying himself as the victim of an allegedly overzealous missing person investigation. The man talked of getting pushed out of his job and his home by dubious investigative methods that convinced even a judge he’d been unfairly tracked. Ten months after that interview, the disappearance of another young Central Virginia woman has renewed the specter of horror and brought fresh scrutiny to his claims.”
We have to hope he had an accomplice or there is next to no change they will recover Alexis alive. I am sure they were following Taylor before the Sunday she arrested him, so, if he was working alone and had her somewhere alive, she will probably have gone days without water at this point. If he had an accomplice, I think it is more likely one that assisted him after the fact, especially in dumping the car. I suspect he didn’t though. Most often these guys work alone.
For the sake of argument, let’s say he is worthy of profile as a serial offender (NOS). I believe he definitely is and have found nothing to exclude that possibility yet.
If he is, we already have some assumptions to make based on his possible association to at least 2 missing women. But- as I pointed out, there are more on the table nobody is talking about. If you asked me from a case study and empirical data perspective what the chances were that Taylor had an accomplice in any segment of these crimes- I would tell you it is very high. And that is not taking into consideration that there are 2 known associates that have fled warrants.
This is one of those cases that as an analyst, I have to remind staff AND myself not to go too wide, but to go wide enough, if that makes sense.
B
Ode- In pure Maury Povich & Dinosaur term’s I am “Not The Mama” – just borrowed one for a while today! But I’ll put your congrats on file for the future if I ever have any!
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I am anxiously awaiting to hear the release from Blink or other reporters on the dates that RAT was behind bars along with corresponding work release or half way house s.
I wonder if it would have been possible for him to have served time under a different name?
I hate that I feel like a conspiracy theorist when I continue to be baffled by the fact that the man who is wanted for the murder of MH is of AA descent.
I don’t know why I was so floored when Sketch was released three years ago and I still can’t remember why I have always suspected more than one person was involved.
I spoke to a guy a while back who told me that he had FBI ties in VA. I asked him about the MH case and he later got back to me that supposedly they were looking at more than one person acting in conjunction. Don’t quote me on that statement or its’ validity…as I never had the chance to see if he really had connections or was just full of it. But after I read the Hook article and how Samantha Clarke was introduced to him through two other unnamed men….and that investigators are not certain he acted alone in the current investigation- my antenna has gone off.
I would also like to see a list of cell mates he spent alot of time with over the years.
How far was this away from Cassandra Morton?
There have been way too many cases along Rt 29 over the past 20+ years for none of them to be connected by the same perp, acquaintances, partner, group or I hate to even say this but…network.
#praying the find Alexis alive! Wow that would be so wonderful
As of May 2013- There were 163 missing person cases in the state of virginia. 88 females. 25 from Hampton Roads those are listed here: http://goo.gl/4SRmO
I found that as I was searching for a site I found a couple of years ago while researching…the exact same thing. Cold Cases in VA.
Hope this arrest is gonna solve several and save so many
Thank you Dr. Pepper….I was able to find the woman I was thinking of who went missing in Sept 2011: Dana Lynn Turner Cannaday….Chesapeake, with Greene County ties( same as Samantha Clarke). Disappeared after telling her mother she was riding with someone who repossesses cars to NC.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Missing_Woman_Has_Ties_to_Greene_County_138720139.html
This guy could be a monster and connected to many crimes unknown. A camo-wrapped suburban vehicle driven by a man suspected in the disappearance of at least 2 women tells me he has the need for him and his vehicle to stay hidden for some reason. Given where Ms Murphy`s vehicle was found, would it be reasonable to search similar terrain to where Morgan Harrington was found?
Dan and Gil Harrington will be doing skype spot on Jane Valez Mitchell tonight around 7:15pm with their thoughts on #AlexisMurphy. #FindAlexisMurphy #missing #JVM #JaneValezMitchell #hln
“I still think that media attention is the key – to answers and to heightened awareness and caution in the community.” ~Gil Harrington
I have a feeling Ms B is busy today. Sounds like FBI is out in full force at RAT’s house. Praying something comes of this investigation…although it’s not lookin good for Alexis. Prayers for her and all who love her.
SWAMPED
More to come, he is like a geyser.
B
snip>
More to come, he is like a geyser.
B*******************************
I seem to not be able to refresh my twitter feeds and news coverage fast enough for this case.
The media is doing a great job covering this. KUDOS to all the media out there covering for Alexis….
Today, on Channel 29 Noon news there was a witness who said that he saw RAT sitting in the Food Lion parking lot watching people. This was on the day Alexis disappeared. The witness said that he went in and got what he needed and when he returned to the parking lot, RAT was still there watching. The Food Lion parking lot is on a hill and overlooks the Liberty Gas Station in Lovingston. That was the last place Alexis was seen (that we know of). Chilling.
Whew.
LOL, your safe. I do not have a peanut allergy.
B
Another article online already looked into the Highway 29 stalker case, and said that Taylor was in jail during the Alicia Reynolds abduction.
There have been multiple witnesses in the Harrington case who said that more than one person was involved, and not just the lady on TV specials which are really watered down. Witnesses have posted things online to that effect.
Thanks for sticking with this.
Wasn’t there a car wash near where Morgan’s shirt was found. RT washed cars….just saying.
just watched JVM, apparently LE told the Harrington’s that randy taylor is not a suspect in Morgan’s disappearnce. Mrs. Harrington said she doesn’t know why they have concluded this already
Ms. Harrington is correct.
B
Ok I may be loosing my mind but watching NG now and a video of RT home property search today and they had like a golf cart on a trailer being pulled. This may have been used in the search but I can not help but think of the curtsies duo sighting at the port-a-john.
I am watching Nancy Grace. They mentioned RAT lived in the location they are searching for only two years. Wonder where his residence was prior to this place?
We have a solid list, it crosses states, and frankly, alias’s.
B
Tiffany Murphy describes her cousin Alexis:
“She’s a senior in high school. She has a full scholarship for volleyball and is planning to go to college. She’s a good kid.”
Unlike Clarke, Alexis did not know RT before her abduction.
update from my previous post; “State police spokeswoman, Corinne Geller stated that so far there is no evidence linking the Alexis Murphy case to the murder of Morgan Harrington.’” this is from http://www.insidenova.com.. I’m on my ipad and have had issues copy and pasting direct links, please delete if this post isn’t ok.
A lot of your Spidey senses are tingling that this guy is pals with Sketch. I wish I could join you but I can’t. His age and geographic history suggests to me that his views may be tinged with racism. I hope to be wrong and hope that Sketch’s number is in his phone.
His car is a 1993 Mercury Marquis. It looks amazingly like every Marquis made since. These also look like Ford Crown Vics. Until recently this was the car of choice for most patrol units nationwide. The reason I mention this is I am curious if he used the ruse of being a LEO to set up his victims. Probably not, a LEO that scruffy would have to be on an undercover wino mission, fooling no one.
Profiling 101 tells us his age was approaching retirement from his dirty deeds. It also tells us that Reagan may have been the POTUS when RAT counted his first coup. This river is long but not too wide. Chasing his addresses through the years, then going out about twenty miles wide to unsolved disappearances will be very time consuming in building associations.
As always, thanks for having me. You’re the best.
Sorry, The Marquis was from a different article. I saw his SUV. Camo is very popular now but mostly for interior trim.
Strand of Alexis’ hair reported to have been found in Taylor’s “camper,” which I believe is also described as his “dilapidated” “residence”? His court-appointedatty calls evidence “weak.” Taylor reportedly claims another man was there too and that police should be looking for that person. Sounds familiar to his story about Samantha Ann Cooke. This article also states
“We found it!” was heard to be called out during a search of his property, but specifics about search not being released.
http://m.roanoke.com/mobile/2150555-29/defense-missing-teen-alexis-murphy-was-in-camper.html
Meant to write Samantha CLARKE in previous comment. Apologies.
Thank you for covering this Blink.
I have to wonder about the way this has all played out.
Just reading and thinking
Thanks to all the links everyone has so graciously supplied….
snip
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Taylor’s home the afternoon of Aug. 6, roughly six hours before Alexis’s car was found in the Carmike Six Cinema parking lot just off U.S. 29 in Albemarle County last Tuesday.
—
The search warrant was obtained before her car was found did the search lead them to her car, and to the XXXStore etc?
—-
Did LE get a very believable tip that Taylor was involved with info/evidence to back the claim…or did LE and a judge think that Taylors being caught on Stape at the same gas station as Alexis coupled w/ his earlier connection to The Clark case (last known to talk w/Samantha etc) was sufficient for the warrant…IDK
When was the FBI called in? Was it because Alexis is a minor? Were they called in as soon as they established that gas station footage was RT inorder to ensure that this case is on the up and up and not just LE against RT which might be argued as a repeat of Taylor and the GPS win… or was it before?
According to the article:
“Taylor was arrested and charged with “abduction by force or intimidation”
How can they charge him with this unless they have a witness or a tape or evidence? Did that warrant and subsequent finding of the car in the lot supply tangible evidence of “by force or intimidation”… or did they have that evidence earlier which led to the warrant?
Heres another snip: ** by me
On Saturday we learned the FBI went around to businesses along Route 29 asking for surveillance footage, showing employees a picture of a man **who may have last been seen with Alexis.**
Now those businesses confirm that man was Randy Allen Taylor.
—Who came forward to claim Alexis had last been seen with Taylor? Was there someone, or did LE finding RT on GS footage allow them to make this leap & to extend the business searches?
TMK the businesses never stated they saw them “together” at least not the ones quoted in the articles, are there other Stapes from other businesses that place them together?
More snips-
“Martin called Taylor’s arrest a significant step toward finding Alexis.”
Thats a big sad statement..
Why would they arrest Taylor before finding Alexis, or before picking up any suspected accomplices?
TMK Taylor isnt talking but they had been sadly searching with the use of shovels that can not be good..
Snip:
Among the authorities at Taylor’s home Monday was Detective Evans Oakerson, the lead investigator in the unsolved September 2010 disappearance of Samantha Ann Clarke, 19, of Orange, Orange County Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler said. Like Alexis, Clarke went out one night and never came home.
Neither Wheeler nor other authorities working the two cases would say whether they are connected.
“We are certainly looking into all possibilities,” FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Mazanec said.We are certainly looking into all possibilities,” FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Mazanec said.
–
Which case are they actively pursuing? was this LEs chance to search RT grounds camper vehicles etc, to find some evidence in the SC case… and the gasStation footage placing Rt in the same vicinity as a missing girl was enough?
I wonder, is all, and I am hoping against hope that Alexis is still alive… and this line of thinking helps that, I suppose
Is that protocol to have all these LEA there so early? Especially in a case (Clark) where it was said LE was in the wrong “too many inconsistencies” etc
I hope that these searches turn up the evidence that is needed to find Alexis and hopefully it turns up some much needed info on Samantha and any other unsolved case
and IF there are accomplices, I hope they are successfully prosecuted as well.
Thanks for letting me take up space w/ my questions…
AJMO
Peace
My prayers to Alexis to Samantha and to their families and to the community.
apologies for misspelling Samanthas last name.
So now Randy Taylor’s attorney is telling their “story” and what a story it is. What are the odds that Mr. Taylor has such bad luck that he admits being one of the last people in contact with not one, but two, missing girls? What a crock. I think they have more than just a hair of Alexis’ in the camper in terms of forensic evidence. I want to know what was in the car. I think these antics might not be good enough to get by the FBI.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/23140117/through-attorney-randy-taylor-tells-his-story
RAT trying to writhe his way out of this one too… Her hair in his camper is pretty incriminating.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2150555-12/defense-missing-teen-alexis-murphy-was-in-camper.html
I agree with one thing, Drugs/Marijuana seem to be the connecting factor between these two here…
Agreed.
B
New possible development last night: RT’s attorney is saying this all revolves around a drug deal involving weed. He is saying that Alexis left with the drug dealer, a 20 something black male and he says the authorities already know about him. Not sure how believable this is since in the Clarke case he tried to place the blame on 2 other men.
I read in the comments either here or on the news channel’s Facebook that on Alexis’ twitter she posted something about marijuana at some point, I do not know her twitter so can’t look to see what is being talked about there. But I assume if RT is the anonymous twitter person who commented about her at the gas station that he could have saw this alleged tweet she made about marijuana as well.
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/arrest-made-in-alexis-murphy-case/-/20128466/21423172/-/10ry68e/-/index.html
I imagine this will have been posted multiple times and I am just not seeing it yet, but Taylor is concocting his explanation for forensic evidence showing she was in his trailer. The vague black guy with dreads and 20 inch rims must have done it, and he is just really unlucky when it comes to teenage girls disappearing after he was the last known person to have contact with him.
sorry, forgot link
http://www.nbc29.com/story/23140117/through-attorney-randy-taylor-tells-his-story
Sorry if double posting isn’t allowed I just stumbled upon this site a few days ago and I’ve been following this case closely but I found this article with a lot more info. than what the local tv stations have been putting out there as of this morning:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2150555-12/defense-missing-teen-alexis-murphy-was-in-camper.html
NBC 29 @NBC29 now
Through attorney Michael Hallahan,#Alexis Murphy abduction suspect Randy Taylor says another man was the last to see her Sat. Aug. 3rd.
twitter.com/nbc29
http://www.nbc29.com/story/23140117/through-attorney-randy-taylor-tells-his-story
now he’s saying that black man in a burgundy sedan was the last one to see her after he helped her set up a drug deal (marijuana)… IF this is true, sounds like it could be a possible scenario in Morgan’s case as well. I am taking it with a grain of salt but still, the fact that it’s coming out raises many questions and leds further credence to the accomplice theory
Hi Blink…I’m sure you’re working on this update:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2150555-12/defense-missing-teen-alexis-murphy-was-in-camper.html
It was said previously that Alexis didn’t know RT. But, if she and another man were in his camper…someone must have known each other at some point, right? RT says he didn’t know the black man that was with Alexis?
Normally, if you invite someone into your home to buy drugs, don’t you get there name first? Even a street name? I’m not too familiar with the drug buying process…
It’s awful convenient to say another man was seen with Alexis. I was curious about the other two that fled. Will we soon hear more of them? This is so sad to see so many young women head out and never return. I sure hope parents and other responsible adults are out there using these missing girls as a valuable tool in teaching young girls how poor choices can kill. It’s a dangerous world.
Wow, her Twitter account makes me see her in a whole other light. Her approaching RAT is not so far fetched in my opinion but I do believe there is LOTS more to the story and the ending is not going to be a shocker.