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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Somewhat off topic but 2 weeks ago I was in Elkton, Va. My husband and I stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast and this man with zero social skills walked in and cut in line very quietly. Then was too close right behind me at the drinks and when I turned around and saw his face, he was a dead ringer for the 29 stalker sketch right down to the shirt. He was appropriately aged; had identical features and hair only older. After I noticed him, I remembered that one of the suspects that LE looked at in the 1990′s lived in Elkton and that gave me the chills. It makes me wonder if a lot of people look like him and that is why it is so hard to catch killers like him. It also made me realize how harmless people like that can appear—my husband thought he just lacked manners—I thought he was off and creepy.
dda- your takeaway from that experience at a minimum, is to ALWAYS listen to your satellites. Your inner voice or intuition. It will never fail you although I admit the goal is to never know how well it works and just protect you.
B
This is definitely a growing topic of concern in many geographic areas, Albemarle Co. not withstanding. The Polaris Project is teaming up with the US State Department in combatting human trafficking as it often involves cases of visa fraud which allows organized crime, and often foreign diplomats, to bring individuals into the US for numerous reasons, including the sex trade. I can’t imagine that it is limited to bringing people in to the US as there has to be a network that includes exportation of these crimes along with the victims of the crimes.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Police-Human-Sex-Trafficking-a-Growing-Problem-230611621.html?device=phone
Thanks for the article CentVa Native Away.
It appears that the good colonel recognizes a local problem in Albemarle County. He may be making the first steps to secure a grant similar to that in Fairfax county. UVA and the other nearby schools are sure to be targets for trafficking.
A million dollars well spent would be a major effort to stop this type of crime.
Rader’s post retirement message to the person who knows:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/amanda-stclair/an-open-letter-to-the-person-with-information-on-morgan-harringtons-death/10152062866373783
Thanks to everyone for the links
I am so sorry to see Alexis still has not been found-
I was hoping that with the suspect incarcerated some news would come to light on Alexis and possibly Samantha Clarke.
I continue to pray for their families -
How much harder it must be to think this man had something to do with your daughters disappearance and to have to wait and bear the silence STILL.. horrific truly.
I was glad to learn:
The families of Harrington and Murphy say they support each other, united by their loss.
“We will help carry her, as other people did for us,” said Gil Harrington. “We will return all the compassion we received and definitely we will help this family.”
Murphy said she has received much comfort from parents who know what she is going through. “They are such strong people and to have them means a lot to me.”
snipped from
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Families-of-Morgan-Harrington-and-Alexis-Murphy-Join-Forces-to-Save-the-Next-Girl-228257121.html
Still Praying
AJMO
Peace
Ragdoll good to see you I was wondering where you were- Raders letter still makes me question everything in Morgans case- sad that it seemed to do no good.
What is going on with the suit is it still moving forward?
Another year and still no new info , on how why where- no arrests
Still with the 4 year anniversary of Morgans disappearance it seems Gil and Metallica are still determined to make a positive difference .
“I was overwhelmed and humbled that they chose to support us in this way. This is kind of how you triumphs evil. People do the right thing, the generous thing, the wonderful thing. They have really been lovely to us.”
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-shirts-raise-thousands-for-morgan-harrington-fund/#tkmb36C7Q7whcPoZ.99
AJMO
Peace
@ Mom,3.0 says:
November 8, 2013 at 1:11 am
Hey Mom,3.0! It’s ALWAYS good to see you too, dear friend. I’ve been here, lurking and hovering.
Unreal….4 years. I haven’t followed the suit. Wish I could provide more details in that area.
Praying with you, Mom. I really do have faith there will be answers, that will close this case. As we all know, it doesn’t bring Morgan back and it certainly doesn’t bring ‘closure’ for her dear family. Her killer’s dna is out there…or waiting to be put into CODIS. He’ll make a mistake. Someone has KEY evidence. Who knows, but it’s out there.
God bless y’all. Super duper lovin on ya’s! xo
@Ragdoll
i re-read Rader’s open letter and it sure does seem like he has a specific person or persons in mind. pretty clear he feels that LE has spoken to someone that has given “half-truths”. i also think one of the main purpose of the civil suit is to get someone or someones testimony on record.
@ deetee says:
November 15, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Honestly, deetee, that was my very first reaction. He knows someone who has info. However, when I re-read it I realized he was talking to someone ‘generic’ that knows something…or at least that’s my take on it. It could be possible does know, but the name got away on him somehow
.
Thanks for your feedback, friendy!
)
Search update
Help Save The Next Girl shared Trina Murphy’s status update.
Trina Murphy
There will be a public search for Alexis on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The members of SHOPO Nation in Lynchburg started this and we are hoping to have a good turnout. It needs to be organized and thought out . Depending on the response we will form teams. We want to cover 29 again and possibly another area that will be announced at a later date. We need to make certain that anyone participating is SAFE!! Wether walking on 29 or in the woods you will need the basics: good shoes, blaze orange safety vests, etc.. PLEASE DO NOT do anything you are uncomfortable doing for health reasons. We will pick a meeting spot for everyone to gather and disperse from. We will be looking for sponsors for water, Gatorade, coffee, hot chocolate and anything others may wish to bring. We will work with local business to see what we can get donated and I will keep everyone updated on what we have. I will be creating a FB event. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and support. Let’s get the word out!!
I just cannot believe that Alexis has not been found. WHERE is she? Where is Samantha?
I’ve tried to piece together the way things might have gone on the day Alexis disappeared. RAT acknowledges that he was with her that day. He must have known her or been aware of her through simple proximity to her home and high school. He no doubt followed her postings and tweets with great fascination. I’m guessing that he lured her from the gas station to his trailer home somehow (buying or selling pot?), disabled her (violently), and then transported her in his truck somewhere. Then he had to dispose of her car–but how? He could not destroy it or bury it or hide it without a great deal of trouble and time so he had to leave it somewhere. He donned rubber gloves and other clothing to cover his DNA, drove it to Charlottesville and left it near her place of work (where he probably had followed her on previous days) to throw investigators off, make it look like she was abducted near her job. But Kid-to-Kid is a very high visibility spot on 29, so he chose the nearby, well known, very large, and secluded parking lot of the Carmike Theater and he parked it there at about 3:00 in the morning and walked or biked back to Nelson. I wonder if he had a bike? Was a bike found at his trailer? He looks like such a wiry, muscular type that I could see him easily making the trip on a warm night.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/24096200/search-for-alexis-murphy-to-take-place-sunday
I hope they are able to find something. Wish I was around to help, but in Texas until Sunday night.
. Thinking about the searchers and her family.
Morgan I’m thinking of you today. I look at my Christmas tree and think of the pain your Mama feels while putting up hers, if she even can. I look at my grown daughters and am reminded of where you would be now. My youngest blonde beauty reminds me so much of you.
So many love you…..so many care. The spirit of Christmas is here and your strong spirit seems to be magnified at this time.
Like everyone else, I’m hoping for a resolution soon. Please God, let this arrest be a Christmas gift to Dr. and Mrs. Harrington and Alex. This is my prayer today and the weeks ahead.
http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_67f4d718-5b7d-11e3-9121-001a4bcf6878.html
Another abandoned car and missing girl in Virginia.
Heard about this program today in Fairfax, VA that teaches teens about human trafficking. I know TG and others were speculating about this as a possible cause of Alexis’ disappearance. Very informative web site.
http://www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork/trafficking/index.html
From Ode’s link:
The missing Lynchburg girl sounds and looks like a very beautiful person. So sad.
Here is another article on the Lynchburg girl- I live in VA and this is the first I heard of it. This is bad news- what is going on??
http://www.wset.com/story/24117441/lynchburg-police-no-clues-found-in-search-for-missing-teen
I just read a bit further- wondered if the bf had made it home- apparently he did.
~snip from above~
Lynchburg Police say they are interviewing Jamisha’s boyfriend, the one friends say, she was last with before her disappearance. However police tonight saying no suspects have been identified.
This article is a tribute by Alexis’ family
Four Months Since Disappearance, Family and Friends Light Christmas Tree Honoring Alexis Murphy
Additionally- this site has other articles along the side tab related to other missing people as well. Sad link for the holiday.
http://www.wset.com/story/24128753/family-and-friends-of-alexis-murphy-light-christmas-tree-for-alexis-murphy
Looks like they`ve found Ms Gilbert. This is very sad and my thoughts go to her family, it looks very suspicious but no hint as to how she died just yet.
http://www.wset.com/story/24144848/body-found-in-lynchburg-wednesday-identified-as-jamisha-gilbert
From Liam’s post. The article stays:
Police say the body was found at Megginson Lane Cemetery in a wooded area, where crime tape was put up Wednesday.
****
It is bothersome that she was found in or near a cemetery.
RE:
Liam says:
December 5, 2013 at 12:07 pm & Ode says:
December 5, 2013 at 1:22 pm
How sad!
Check this out:
Parker Slaybaugh 8News
5 hours ago via mobile
Wow. You all really are incredible and an inspiration to me. I have been bombarded with messages and emails asking how you can help with Jamisha’s burial expenses. Because of you all I am confident Jamisha’s family will have all the help they need. I just got a call from Gil Harrington and she says Help Save The Next Girl is going to make sure this family has all the help they need. She says herself along with Alexis Murphy’s family will be holding an event this Saturday at noon at Miller Park in Lynchburg. They will be collecting money there to go to Jamisha’s family. For those of you who do not live in the Lynchburg area you can go to HelpSaveTheNextGirl.com to donate. Gil says put Jamisha’s Fund in the notes section or the memo section of your check and all that money will be given to Jamisha’s family. Please spread the word.
https://www.facebook.com/ParkSlaybaugh
“The Missing” good summary article
http://www.c-ville.com/call-to-action-families-of-murdered-and-missing-people-gather-after-another-death/#.Uqp7guLjOSo
http://articles.wdbj7.com/2013-03-26/dan-and-gil-harrington_38048849
I know that I mentioned this before, but I can’t help but think that it is no accident that the Harringtons are citing the off-duty police officer in the civil suit vs RMC for more than just a precedent setting policy of allowing him back in the arena while Morgan had been denied re-entry. Has this officer’s name been released? What are his ties to Cville? Has he been vetted?
Also, Lynchburg Police have not released much regarding Jamisha Gilbert’s murder. Are they afraid of creating hysteria after Cassandra Morton’s murder and Alexis Murphy’s disappearance (they have ostensibly ruled out a connection).
A lot to chew on.
“Knockout: Victims of brutal Downtown Mall assault want arrests, and answers from police
“Even though one of the victims, Jeanne Doucette, managed to take photos that appear to show the assailants as they kicked and pummeled her boyfriend Marc Adams to unconsciousness, Charlottesville Police still do not have any suspects. Doucette says there were other witnesses to the crime, which allegedly occurred just outside the Wells Fargo building at around 1am as she and Adams walked from Miller’s to Rapture, and she is baffled as to why the police haven’t shared her images more widely with people who could have seen the suspects earlier in the evening.
‘I cannot understand why they didn’t let people know what happened,” said Doucette, who still bore injuries from the assault when she met for an interview a week later. “Those pictures might have prompted some tips.’”
“‘It’s like they don’t care,’ said Doucette, who said she called police on December 29 to follow up on the investigation and was told that the case had been suspended due to a lack of information and had not been assigned to a detective. ‘I don’t understand why they couldn’t even have the courtesy to call and say we’re not even going to look for them,’ she said.
According to CPD spokesperson Ronnie Roberts, investigators canvassed the Downtown area after the assault but did not find anyone matching the description of the alleged assailants. Police did not release Doucette’s pictures to the public, Roberts said, because they believed surveillance video from the bank might offer clearer images, and they hoped officers might recognize some of the men in Doucette’s photos without tipping them off that they were being sought.
Roberts said police requested the bank video on Friday, December 27, a week after the attack, and had not received it as of Sunday, December 29. On Sunday, Doucette finally posted the pictures she’d taken to her Facebook page and said she quickly received several tips that she has passed on to police. Her frustration at the lack of an investigation is palpable.
‘I feel forgotten about,’ Doucette said. ‘I feel like I’m not safe.’”
http://www.c-ville.com/knock-out-victims-of-brutal-downtown-mall-assault-want-arrests-and-answers-from-police/
There is a press conference tomorrow morning at 10:00 am regarding Alexis Murphy. Does anyone know of any developments that would lead to a press conference?
I guess everyone knows this by now:
http://www.wset.com/story/24372660/randy-taylor-indicted-on-murder-charges
Hope they have enough evidence if he had something to do with it, but more importantly, the family needs relief. Where is Alexis? Not sure how this works, but wonder if he offered a plea deal already for the whereabouts of Alexis or if that happens later??
Who is this guy’s cousin that he speaks of?
http://m.dailyprogress.com/news/local/jasper-convicted-of-rape-curses-victim-in-court/article_5d865e1e-795f-11e3-861a-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm
just came by to check in on our girls and the hunt for the POS that stole them from their families. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them.
J4M
Praying for Alexis and her family and for Morgan and the Harringtons as well. May justice prevail for them all and may God grant them peace and strength to carry on.
Amen joerose.
B
I think of these beautiful young women every day. Alexis, Morgan, Samantha.
I too think everyday of these beautiful young women and pray that they and their families find peace and that soon justice will prevail.
Hopefully the true bill returned by the Grand Jury contains information leading to a resolution of this case and some others.
This guy is knowledgeable of how the court systems work. Even if guilty, he may hold out for some consideration in the length of sentence in exchange for information regarding the location of the remains.
A TX Grandfather:
I agree with you on all counts. Taylor is the ultimate street chess player and will work the system to his advantage using information that he is withholding as his pawns if the evidence is strong enough to convict him. The guy has a shameless swagger. He reminds me of the Mitchum/Deniro character from “Cape Fear”.
I know this isn’t relevant to Morgan or Alexis, but I can’t get my hands around all of the violent crime that occurs in this area. It is very troublesome and senseless.
http://www.wset.com/story/24662895/3-charged-with-capital-murder-in-connection-with-kevin-quick-death
More updated info. here re: CPT. Quick murder:
http://m.nbc12.com/#!/newsDetail/24662663
One for the prosecution:
http://www.wset.com/story/24665129/motion-to-move-taylor-trial-denied
They will not move the trial, but he will be allowed to wear clothing to make him appear to be someone he is not.
This is a clean up my appearance tactic by his attorneys.I hope the people of Nelson county are smarter than this.
How does that old saying go re: chicken salad…?
@centva
One of my favorite sayings! And really true after he showed up at the last hearing looking like the guy from cape fear. It was a noticeable and scary change from the mugshot…and I am sure everyone in the jury pool will remember it when he shows up in a suit for trial.
Is there any news at all on the Morgan Harrington front?
Only that the civil case is proceeding that I am aware of.
B
Here’s a story just making the rounds about the “Craigslist Killer.” This “person” has lived in North Carolina, among other places. Is it possible she has visited Virginia? She must have had help with her killings (if you believe her). She did kill in PA and had help there (her new nitwit husband). There’s just a whole lot of unsolved killings/missing persons in VA. Just some food for thought.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-craigslist-killing-20140216,0,2864177.story#axzz2tbWuD84i
Hey B,
I’ve tried to get caught up on the Kyron Hormon case but not starting from the beginning like I did with Morgan, I think I’m way too behind to ever catch up. I say this, because I am wondering if you could possibly tell us if you are working on something else right now that we can look forward to reading and diving into.
You said many times over the years on this site that the answer to Morgan’s case is somewhere here on this site. I still believe that! We threw out every single possible scenario. I miss the constant research and sleuthing everyone was doing….I hate everyone feels like they’ve done all that they can do.
I truly hope that LE has looked through every UVA, vendor employee who was there that evening. I hope that they’ve looked into the possibility of Sketch being in the military and tested his DNA against their database. I hope and I pray that he is found, so they can save the next girl.
If you have heard of ANY updates, please pass them along. No matter how big or small.
Also, I am not sure if I shared this link with ya’ll but in Sept, a 31 year old mother was driving along a busy street very close to the home of some old family friends in Arkansas. A passerby in a truck drove passed her, pulled out a gun and shot her in the head while she was at a stoplight. She died instantly while her baby girl was in the back seat. LE scoured surveillance footage from local businesses and was able to find a shot of the truck. The killing was random, broad daylight. Terrifying. There’s also been zero updates on the investigation.
http://ow.ly/tQLBn
Sorry for going OT but I have been meaning to share this with ya’ll for a while.
Still praying for answers and justice for everyone.
love,
DP
edit:
-it happened in August, not Sept
-she wasnt at the stoplight, she was driving and crashed her car
-she didn’t die instantly..but she did at a local hospital
here’s another link to the story: http://ow.ly/tQMeW
Good to see you Dr. Pepper
Your story is just the reason that everyone who drives needs to be alert to everything around them. The rear view mirrors are there to help one see traffic behind. If she were watching the truck pass her, she would have seen the gun and could have braked her car to make the shot miss.
This is an important element of driving safely.
Another familial DNA conviction in Virginia:
http://m.timesdispatch.com/news/local/crime/brother-s-dna-leads-to-rape-conviction-in-williamsburg/article_90431ad3-5989-5122-b274-05805ea30a77.html?mode=jqm
More arrests in cases monitored by Help Save the Next Girl and Blink on Crime. Hopefully, it’s a trend towards justice being served in other cases we’ve all been following, namely Morgan’s, Alexis’, and Cassandra Morton’s:
http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0306/Holly-Bobo-disappearance-case-sees-murder-indictment
CentVA Native Away says:
March 6, 2014 at 12:51 pm
More arrests in cases monitored by Help Save the Next Girl and Blink on Crime. Hopefully, it’s a trend towards justice being served in other cases we’ve all been following, namely Morgan’s, Alexis’, and Cassandra Morton’s..
Good post… That case seemed pretty strange from the outset with how she was just led into the woods.. Glad to see they found the sicko. I hope to one day see a conclusion to all 3 of the cases you mentioned, but at the rate LE seems to be going who knows if that will ever happen. For almost 2 years I used to check the web daily to see if they found sketch or someone connected to Morgan. Over the last year or so I now check either weekly or bi-weekly bc this case seems to be moving at a snails pace; at least what they release to the media.. I just think there’s too many shady characters involved in Morgan’s case and I think someone with power is involved in covering a few important details up to keep UVA’s far away from this case. Who knows though. Hopefully, the Harrington’s get justice bc everything I’ve read about them, their HSTNG campaign, and every interview I’ve seen them do they seem like very good people who deserve to have closure.
That is great news if they got Holly Bobo’s killer. I wonder if they got a tip.
There was apparently an informant relative to the initial drug arrest. It is my understanding from sources that there is an expectation of further arrests- although it is not clear if they are relative to a similar indictment or accessory charges. It is for this reason they will not specify whether her remains have been located, etc.
TN statute is clear, and for this man to be indicted without clear and unambiguous evidence of the charges it bears would never happen. Most especially not in TN- based on my experiences in other cases.
B