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| Taylor Case | Interviews | Evidence | Biographies | Press | Join | Home | |
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YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Investigating Officer: Detective Terrence Nelson CAPS/Homicide Case No.: 129152-36A-1998 All detailed reports on file. February 21, 1998 Interviews conducted with Taylor family at 103 Pleasant
Drive. Interviews on file.
February 22, 1998 Lab technician, Les Ballard obtained hair and blood samples from Robert and Margaret Taylor, Mr. Taylor's parents. Voice samples taken for comparison with 2/19 call. February 23, 1998 Verified life insurance policies. All Taylor children had equal coverage, $100,000, Shane policy date 6/14/83, Dale policy date 2/6/84, Crystal policy date 3/7/85. February 24, 1998 Reverend Tommy Sands, First Baptist Church, Van Buren: arrangements made for service surveillance and security. Interview regarding Taylor family, states they are actively involved in the church and he has seen no indication of family trouble other than the known issues with Shane. States father has high expectations. February 25, 1998 Memorial service, no incidents. Surveillance tapes on file. February 27, 1998 5:20 p.m.: Kristi Dawes, passenger on Magnolia Transit 2/2 4:16 a.m. - recalls a suspicious vehicle in the area - scheduled interview for 3/2. March 2, 1998 Interview: Kristi Dawes, describes vehicle as black or dark, two door hatchback at location McLarty Road south of McDonald's, heard tire squeal as bus left lot. Interview: Mark Jordan, did not observe vehicle, did not hear tire squeal. Telephone Interviews: Passenger manifest contacted, no other passengers recall vehicle or noise. State Forensic K-9 Unit grid search of Eastgate location at 2:30 p.m. Discovery of probable scene of stabbing victim Crystal Taylor behind Dixie Creek BBQ. See K-9 report. Artist rendering of location completed. Crates and pallets taken to Jackson Lab for further analysis. Request for call/dispatch records search YCSD and Oxford PD, time period 2/1 through 2/19 for all dark vehicle reports, two door vehicle reports, suspicious vehicle reports. March 3, 1998 Motor vehicle report shows one two door hatchback registered to Christian Chambers of 17 Virginia Street, one two door convertible also registered to Chambers. Voice analysis shows no match with members of the Taylor family. March 4, 1998 Evidence recovery, luggage found at Hurricane Creek .54 miles north of intersection Hurricane Creek Road and Highway 7. Witness Tucker Baines of 436 Sisk Avenue, Oxford. Appears to have been thrown over bridge, missing handle of skate bag, Mrs. Taylor confirms luggage is complete and that of victims, apparently undisturbed. Traveler's checks recovered, diary of Crystal Taylor recovered, items remaining missing include 18 kt talisman pendant and blue jacket belonging to Dale Taylor. Items taken to Jackson lab for testing. Search of Dickerson ranch location south of Oxford uncovered no evidence related to this case. March 5, 1998 Interviews in Memphis with Allison Gallagher, John P. Kennedy, Michael Morton and Sandra Pullman -- coaches -- requested review of diary, copies left. Particularly interested in Allison Gallagher review, victims lived at Gallagher residence from spring 1996 when in training. Re-interview scheduled March 12. Photos of all vehicles on list completed. March 6, 1998 Call in - William Kapaneko of 406 North 16th Avenue, Oxford, (owner Victor's Pizza, University near Eastgate) scheduled interview for 2:00 p.m. at station, states is witness to running youth on morning of 2/2 at or near 4:00 a.m. on S. 18th near Ross Avenue. Description appears to be influenced by missing persons descriptions, however, report of running individual in vicinity appears credible. Background check clean, no known associations. March 7, 1998 Interviews conducted with Taylor family at station regarding diary entries. All family members deny any family abuse and claim no knowledge of any sexual activity voluntary or involuntary -- very agitated. Further investigation required - subpoena for records. Margaret Jenkins re-interviewed on diary/abuse issues. No specific knowledge, lends credibility to allegations. March 9, 1998 Forensics report - HYC-012695, unlikely Taylor weapons recovered in search 2/21 involved in case. Luggage likely in Hurricane Creek location for at least 15 days per weather patterns and mold growth. Likely was disposed of within several days of 2/2/98. No useful prints, evidence of high force impact damage on several pieces (throwing off bridge most likely cause), missing handle of skate bag likely ripped off forcibly. Request for call/dispatch records search YCSD and Oxford PD, time period 2/1 through 2/19 for all dark vehicle reports, two door vehicle reports, suspicious vehicle reports produced one call 2/2/98 11:20 p.m. dark color Honda open hatchback with load covered by blanket -- no plate, witness Alan Philbert of 2113 Old Taylor Road, location seen - Old Taylor Road near Lamar. March 10, 1998 Subpoena service completed on victim Crystal Taylor and Dale Taylor medical records -- deadline 3/20/98. March 11, 1998 Letter response on subpoena from Internal Medicine Associates of Oxford (Melissa Lageborne). March 12, 1998 Evidence recovery Toby Tubby Creek, .08 between McLarty and S. 18th Street, .4 south of University, knife and jacket, witness Josh C. "Tip" Tatum, Jr. of 923 Ross Avenue. Knife is bloodstained, appears to have been in location for some time, jacket matches description of victim Dale Taylor, logged in Jackson lab 7:46 p.m. with request for rush prelim report. Background check on Tatum shows two DUI convictions. March 14, 1998 Fax received 11:38 a.m. from Examiner Gloria P. Marshall, State Lab, opinion - knife and jacket are those involved in this case, blood consistent with victim Crystal Taylor. Looks like the murder weapon. March 16, 1998 Received e-mail message and spoke by phone with Tania Hotchkiss of 325 8th Avenue, Great Neck, NY. Operations Manager, Dillon Read, has known Christian Chambers via internet approx. 6 months, has not heard from Chambers since approx. 4:00 a.m. 2/2/98. Appears to be more concerned about his personal safety than about his involvement in criminal acts, feels he has not expressed any indication of violent tendencies, no indication of murder fantasies or other related interests. Has not discussed the victims with this witness, may have mentioned Dale once, responded due to YCSD web site case posting. Unable to continue conversation at work, scheduled second conversation for 8:00 a.m. 3/19/98. March 17, 1998 Forensics reports received with results of soil analysis all sites -- St. Peter's: Soil sample 005 and 006 produced concentrations of bismuth, heavy metal near lead on table, similar, used in nontoxic shotshell, bismuth not found in other samples or control samples, taken with cap fragments, wadding and pellets found in sample opinion is that shells used are bismuth shells. (Notation: check availability of shells) Blood and organic material found in sample 005 - heavy concentration iron, confirmation per forensics analysts victim Dale Taylor was shot on the site where he was buried, likely falling to the ground and buried without being moved. Notation: if shooting occurred at time of burial of Crystal M. Taylor, suspect would be nearing daylight and in a hurry to bury this body prior to discovery. Forensic evidence appears to support this supposition. Samples 009 and 010 from victim Crystal M. Taylor burial site show no measurable evidence of blood or other abnormal soil elements, no other evidence. Remainder of samples show no measurable evidence. Eastgate samples: soil sample 003 taken under stained crates shows evidence of blood. No other soil evidence from this location via analysis. Requested lab provide summary report of findings for investigators. March 18, 1998 Canvass of local sporting goods and phone calls to major suppliers show that bismuth shotshells described are likely waterfowl shells, stocked in limited quantity by all contacted. Primary are Bismuth Corp/Winchester brand. March 19, 1998 8:00 a.m. interview with Tania Hotchkiss, given nature of relationship she feels that Christian might turn to her if approached with offer of help. Agreement to use her screen name for e-mail to arrange live private chat with Chambers for exploration of involvement in this case. Discussion of composition of e-mail. Witness remains concerned about personal safety of Chambers and believes that is the key to a response. Emergency order obtained for use of account, cleared. E-mail composed, consulted with state forensic psychologist Claxton, sent e-mail to screen name [email protected] arranging for midnight chat on Friday, 3/20/98. Forensic results received on evidence collected at Eastgate location, confirmed match with Crystal Taylor. Fibers matching jacket of victim found in pallet. No other evidence. March 20, 1998 Computer expert confirmed for scheduled chat at 12:00 a.m. REPORT FILED 3/20/98, 4:00 p.m. BY DET. TERRENCE NELSON |