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YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT
Investigating Officer: Detective Terrence Nelson
CAPS/Homicide Case No.: 129152-36A-1998
Victim: Crystal M. Taylor
DOB: 1/28/79
Victim: Dale J. Taylor
DOB: 2/9/78
Case Summary:
On February 2, 1998 at approximately 3:30 a.m., victims
Crystal M. Taylor and Dale J. Taylor were dropped off at the
Eastgate Shopping Center, 1936 University Avenue, Oxford, in
front of the Big Star Grocery by older brother, Shane Taylor
of 103 Pleasant Drive, Oxford. Crystal Taylor and brother,
Dale Taylor were ticketed on the 4:16 a.m. Magnolia Shuttle
Bus from the Eastgate Shopping Center to the Memphis Airport
to meet American Airlines flight number 1439 to Colorado.
Testimony of witness Shane Taylor states that an argument
between the brothers and sister began in the car on the way
to the Eastgate Center. Testimony of witness Christian
Chambers indicates that the argument continued between Dale
Taylor and Crystal Taylor after they were dropped of by
brother Shane Taylor.
The investigation shows that between the hours of 3:30
a.m. and 4:00 a.m. this argument resulted in the stabbing
death of Crystal M. Taylor by Dale J. Taylor behind the
Dixie Creek BBQ in the Eastgate Shopping Center. Crystal
Taylor received three fatal stab wounds. Forensics show that
the murder weapon was a knife belonging to the victim's
brother, Dale Taylor. DNA results show that blood on the
knife belongs to both Crystal and Dale Taylor, fingerprint
evidence shows only Dale Taylor's prints on the knife. Dale
Taylor's clothing showed a substantial quantity of the
victim's blood. There is no physical evidence of any other
participant in the death of Crystal Taylor. Witness Chambers
testifies that Dale Taylor confessed to this crime. Witness
Kapaneko and Hotchkiss testimony as well as internet service
records support the timeline.
At 4:04 a.m. on February 2 Christian Chambers abruptly
signed off an internet chat with Hotchkiss. Chambers
testimony shows that this is the time that Dale Taylor
arrived at 17 Virginia Street seeking the aid of Chambers in
the murder of his sister, Crystal Taylor. Witness Dawes
testimony corroborates Chambers statement that he drove Dale
Taylor back to the Eastgate location stopping on McLarty
Road south of the McDonald's in Honda Civic VIN # 538962087
idling there until the Magnolia Transit Bus departed the
lot.
Chambers confession and physical evidence show that he
and Dale Taylor proceeded to transport the body of Crystal
Taylor to the St. Peter's Cemetery at 113 S. 9th St, Oxford.
According to Chambers' statement he and Dale Taylor buried
the body of Crystal Taylor in an existing grave and after an
altercation with Dale Taylor, Chambers' shot Dale Taylor in
the grave and buried him.
Chambers disposed of the Taylor luggage first at the west
end of Old Taylor Road at approximately 7:30 a.m. on
February 2. At 11:30 p.m. on February 2 he transported the
luggage from that location to Hurricane Creek at .54 miles
north of intersection Hurricane Creek Road and Highway 7 at
Hurricane Creek bridge. Witness Philbert and dispatch
records for the night of February 2 support this
statement.
On February 19 at 1:46 p.m. Chambers made an anonymous
call to the YCSD taken by dispatcher Trina David that led to
the discovery of the Taylor burial. Voice analysis results
April 3 following extradition of Chambers to Oxford confirm
he made this call.
Chambers fled the Oxford area on March 21st to Sonora,
Mexico where he stayed until March 28 at the Penasco Beach
Club Condos on Playa Bonita Beach. On March 31st Chambers
voluntarily surrendered to the custody of the Sonoma County
Sheriff's Department, Santa Rosa, CA. He was returned to
Oxford on April 3 by myself and Deputy Wise. A signed
confession was obtained from Chambers.
Witness and Expert Testimony:
Sandra Taylor, victims' mother, 103 Pleasant Drive,
Oxford
Areas of testimony: last meal, timing, identification of
luggage inventory, identification of amulet, clothing,
relationships, family background, phone calls and activities
during the period 1/16/98 through 2/1/98
Jim Taylor, victims' father, 103 Pleasant Drive,
Oxford
Areas of testimony: timing, identification of luggage loaded
in vehicle, background, ownership of Crystal Taylor murder
weapon - lockback knife
Shane Taylor, victims' brother, 103 Pleasant Drive,
Oxford
Areas of testimony: timing, details of argument, drop off
location, luggage left at Big Star, ownership of Crystal
Taylor murder weapon, background, relationships
Roger Jetton, Magnolia Transit Driver, 2742 Arthur Drive,
Memphis
Areas of testimony: attest to passenger manifest, victims
Crystal and Dale Taylor were not at the bus pick up, no
luggage on walk at Big Star
Kristi Dawes, Magnolia Transit passenger, Old Taylor
Place, Apt. # 17, Oxford
Areas of testimony: eyewitness to vehicle idling on McLarty
Road at 4:15 a.m. 2/2/98 from Magnolia Transit Bus, Oxford
passenger arrived at Big Star location 4:10 a.m., no sign of
Taylors or luggage
William Kapaneko, 406 North 16th Avenue, Oxford
Areas of testimony: eyewitness to running person matching
description of Dale Taylor, approximately 4:00 a.m. on South
18th Street near Ross.
Tania Hotchkiss, 325 8th Avenue, Great Neck, NY
Areas of testimony: eyewitness account of unexpected
termination of internet chat 2/2/98 with Christian Chambers
at 4:04 a.m. e-mail correspondence with Christian Chambers,
e-mail correspondence with YCSD Detective T. Nelson 3/4/98,
use of account for chat set up 3/20/98 with suspect
Christian Chambers.
Margaret Jenkins, 510 Van Buren, Oxford
Areas of testimony: background Crystal Taylor
Michael Morton, 8561 Jackson Parkway, Memphis
Areas of testimony: skating coach to both Dale and Crystal
Taylor, background on skating career, relationship between
Crystal and Dale Taylor, instances of Dale Taylor aggression
against Crystal Taylor
John Paul Kennedy, 19 Fairview Lane, Memphis
Areas of testimony: skating coach to both Dale and Crystal
Taylor, background on skating career, relationship between
Crystal and Dale Taylor, instances of aggression by Dale
Taylor against Crystal Taylor
Allison Gallagher, 73 Mockingbird Way, Memphis
Areas of testimony: skating coach and choreographer for Dale
and Crystal Taylor, Taylors resided with Gallagher family in
Memphis, attest to instances of aggression by Dale Taylor
against Crystal Taylor, background and relationships
Alan Philbert, 2113 Old Taylor Road, Oxford
Areas of testimony: eyewitness to dispatch report 2/2/98
11:20 p.m. dark Honda Civic driving erratically on North Old
Taylor Road.
Trina David, Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department,
dispatch
Areas of testimony: took anonymous call 2/19/98 1:46 p.m.
leading to discovery of bodies in St. Peter's cemetery.
Jonathan Giles, St. Peter's cemetery caretaker, 113 S.
9th St, Oxford
Areas of testimony: condition of grave where bodies found,
access to cemetery, maintenance
Tucker Hewitt Baines, 436 Sisk Avenue, Oxford
Areas of testimony: discovered missing luggage at Hurricane
Creek 3/4/98
Josh Clarence Tatum, Jr., 923 Ross Avenue, Oxford
Areas of testimony: discovered murder weapon, Case lockback
knife and jacket belonging to Dale Taylor 3/12/98, Toby
Tubby Creek location.
Natalie Waring, 21 Virginia Street, Oxford
Areas of testimony: neighbor of Christian Chambers, attest
to habits and suspicious vehicle activity on 2/2/98
Margaret Howard, 18 Virginia Street, Oxford
Areas of testimony: neighbor of Christian Chambers, attest
to habits and suspicious vehicle activity on 2/2/98, last to
see Chambers in Oxford 3/20/98 prior to fugitive flight.
Curtis Mills, 165 Mesita Avenue, El Paso, TX
Areas of testimony: trucker who gave ride to C. Chambers
3/21 and 3/22 Shreveport, LA to El Paso, TX, confirms
Chambers offered cash for crossing border.
John Paxton, 652 Quay Avenue, San Diego, CA
Areas of testimony: private plane owner, flew Chambers from
Sonora to San Diego 3/28/98, stayed at Penasco Beach Resort
where he met Chambers.
Terrance Kershaw, Sonoma Mt. Zen Center, 6367 Sonoma Mt.
Road, Santa Rosa, CA
Areas of testimony: acquaintance of Chambers from September
1994, Chambers arrived at Center approx. 10:00 p.m. 3/30/98
where he surrendered to Sonoma County Sheriff's Dept.
Expert Testimony:
Detective Terrence Nelson: lead investigator,
Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department
William Coates, Forensic K-9 Unit, State Crime Lab,
Jackson
Expert Testimony: Forensic K-9 search St. Peter's Cemetery
2/19/98, Forensic K-9 search Eastgate Shopping Center
3/2/98
James Olton, Forensic K-9 Unit, State Crime Lab,
Jackson
Crime scene handler 3/2/98 Eastgate Shopping Center.
Deputy David Graham, YCSD
Crime Scene response: 2/19/98 St. Peter's Cemetery, Abner's
Restaurant 2/19/98
Deputy Vittel, YCSD
Crime Scene response 2/19/98 St. Peter's Cemetery, Abner's
Restaurant; 3/12 interview Tatum and incident crime scene
Toby Tubby Creek finding of murder weapon in Crystal M.
Taylor and jacket.
Deputy Dawn Hargreaves, Criminologist, YCSD
Crime Scene processing: Abner's Restaurant 2/19/98, St.
Peter's Cemetery 2/19/98, Eastgate Shopping Center
3/2/98.
Jennifer Johnson, MD, Yoknapatawpha County Coroner
3/20/98 autopsy # 113181-36A-1998 Crystal Taylor; 3/20/98
autopsy # 113182-36A-1998 Dale Taylor.
Detective Alan Bartlett, Forensic specialist, YCSD
Crime scene processing 3/2/98 Eastgate Shopping Center,
3/12/98 Toby Tubby Creek discovery.
Expert Testimony - Jackson State Crime Lab:
Brian Lansing, Senior Examiner, prints analysis:
forensics report HYC-012695 including analysis of wallet
belonging to victim Dale Taylor, fanny pack belonging to
victim Crystal Taylor, items taken from Taylor home 103
Pleasant Drive, Oxford 2/21/98, luggage recovered Hurricane
Creek 3/4/98. 3/21/98 forensics team at 17 Virginia Street,
print belonging to Dale Taylor kitchen.
Gloria Marshall, Senior Examiner, hematology lab:
forensics report HYC-012702, blood and prints on murder
weapon Crystal M. Taylor case, jacket belonging to Dale
Taylor recovered Toby Tubby Creek 3/12/98.
David Vogel, Senior Examiner, ballistics: testing on
rifles recovered from 103 Pleasant Drive, determination that
.12 gauge Ruger shotgun and shells recovered from 17
Virginia Street 3/21/98 was murder weapon in Dale Taylor
case. Forensics report HYC-013395.
Jason Claxton, Criminal Psychologist: consultant on
internet sting operation 3/20/98.
Douglas Beschell, Senior Examiner: vehicle examination on
Honda Civic Vin # 538962087, report HYC-013397.
Eric Larson, Senior Forensic Technician: lead technician
exhumation 2/19 and 2/20/98 St. Peter's Cemetery crime
scene.
Les Ballard, Forensic Technician: lab samples from
suspects 3/20 and 3/21/98.
Francis K. Dupin, DNA analyst: DNA Certificates #
98-1641, #98-1683.
Wilma Martin, MD, consultant: post-mortem medical records
review victims Dale and Crystal Taylor.
Deputy Mark Briscoe, Sonoma County Sheriff's Department,
Santa Rosa, California, arresting officer C. Chambers.
Jackson Detection Services, consultants State Crime Lab,
Jackson: voice analysis, polygraph, stress analysis.
Investigation Case Files:
Interview transcripts
Interview tapes
Forensics and laboratory reports
Background checks
Bank records
Telephone records
Detective's notes
Crime scene investigation reports
Witness statements
Warrants and affidavits
Evidence inventory
Key Physical Evidence:
Magnolia Transit Bus Tickets
American Airlines Tickets
American Express Traveler's Checks
In the case of Crystal M. Taylor:
3/2/98 Eastgate search report including Forensic K-9 Unit
report, photographs, scene diagrams
Soil analysis 98-009281 sample 003 taken from Eastgate
Shopping Center crime scene under pallet
Forensic report HYC-012700: crate with blood evidence of
victim, Crystal Taylor, pallet with blood evidence of victim
Crystal Taylor, fibers from victim's jacket found on
pallet
Forensic report HYC-012702: item 0001 - murder weapon, Case
lockback knife with victim's blood, blood from Dale Taylor,
two prints Dale Taylor; item 0002 - jacket belonging to Dale
Taylor with victim's blood
Autopsy report # 113181-36A-1998 3/20/98
Certificate of Analysis 98-1641: DNA findings of Dale Taylor
and Crystal Taylor blood on victim Crystal Taylor's clothing
including: sleeve and left front jacket, right front
sweatshirt; victim's blood on Dale Taylor clothing including
front of Levi jeans, both socks, both shoes uppers and
soles, front T-shirt; analysis of blood found on pallet at
Eastgate matching victim Crystal Taylor
Certificate of Analysis 98-1683: DNA findings of Dale Taylor
and Crystal Taylor DNA on murder weapon; victim's DNA on
jacket belonging to Dale Taylor; victim's blood on blanket
and carpet sample from Honda Civic
Blanket fibers found on victim Crystal Taylor's clothing
Christian Chambers signed statement 4/6/98
Diary of Crystal M. Taylor
Forensics report HYC-013397 Honda Civic VIN # 5389662087:
victim Crystal Taylor's blood found in carpet samples, hair
belonging to victim Crystal Taylor, blanket fibers matching
those on Crystal Taylor's clothing and evidence # 013391-006
blanket recovered from 17 Virginia Street, skate bag handle
013397-008 matching skate bag evidence number #012695-0015
recovered from Hurricane Creek
Dispatch report 2/2/98 23:20 Honda hatchback on North Old
Taylor Road
Print Dale Taylor found at 17 Virginia Street, kitchen door
frame, search 3/21/98
Crime scene photos and diagrams, St. Peter's cemetery 2/19
and 2/20/98
Dispatch tape 2/19/98 13:46 anonymous tip resulting in
discovery of body
Voice analysis 4/3/98 matching Christian Chambers
In the case of Dale J. Taylor:
Signed confession Christian Chambers, 4/7/98.
Autopsy report # 113182-36A-1998 3/20/98
Soil analysis 98-009281 samples 005 and 006 showing high
concentrations of bismuth, victim's blood, wadding and shot
pellets matching those from autopsy and shells belonging to
Christian Chambers.
Forensic report HYC-013395: Ballistics report on murder
weapon item # 0001 - .12 gauge Ruger shotgun belonging to
Christian Chambers, item # 0002 - Bismuth - Winchester
shells matching pellets found at St. Peter's cemetery burial
location for Dale Taylor in soil sample and recovered at
autopsy.
Certificate of Analysis: DNA report on evidence item #
013391-008, work glove recovered from 17 Virginia Street
with blood of victim Dale Taylor and skin cell DNA of
Christian Chambers.
Handwritten letter dated 3/23/98 postmarked 3/25/98 Sonora,
Mexico from Christian Chambers to Terrance Kershaw received
3/30/98.
Arrest report Sonoma County Sheriff's Department 3/31/98,
warrant # 98-109564.
Items recovered in 3/21/98 search and seizure 17 Virginia
Street including amulet belonging to victim Dale Taylor with
print of Christian Chambers, two shovels, evidence listed
individually.
Honda Civic VIN # 5389662087 belonging to Christian Chambers
and report HYC-013397.
Internet service records showing 2/2/98 logs.
Internet chat transcript dated 3/20/98.
Dispatch report 2/2/98 23:20 Honda hatchback on North Old
Taylor Road
Print Dale Taylor found at 17 Virginia Street, kitchen door
frame, search 3/21/98
Crime scene photos and diagrams, St. Peter's cemetery 2/19
and 2/20/98
Dispatch tape 2/19/98 13:46 anonymous tip resulting in
discovery of body
Voice analysis 4/3/98 matching Christian Chambers
SUBMITTED BY DETECTIVE TERRENCE NELSON 4/20/98
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