Taylor faces murder charge in death of mother

VAN BUREN — A Van Buren man now faces a murder charge in connection with the December death of his mother.

The state, represented by Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Hannah Pender, filed an amended complaint on Tuesday, upgrading the charges against Dakota W. Taylor.

The 27-year-old is now charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action (ACA).

The amended complaint alleges on Dec. 10, Taylor, with the purpose to cause serious physical injury to his mother, Kathryn Hall, hit her with a baseball bat, causing her death.

Hall, 58, died at a St. Louis hospital and an autopsy determined she died of blunt-force trauma, officials report. The Ellsinore woman also reportedly suffered a non-fatal stab wound.

Taylor originally was charged with the Class A felony of first-degree domestic assault, the Class E felony of unlawful use of a weapon and the unclassified felony of ACA.

The charges stem from an incident, which occurred at the senior apartments in Ellsinore, where Hall lived.

Just before 7:10 p.m. Dec. 10, Ellsinore Chief of Police Dustin Boyer earlier said, Carter County deputies were dispatched to Taylor’s rural Van Buren home.

When Deputy Curtis Robinett arrived, he met Taylor and two other men, according to Carter County Chief Deputy Justin Eudaley’s probable-cause statement.

“ … Mr. Taylor informed him (Deputy Robinett) he had done something bad to his mother,” Eudaley said. “(He) informed Deputy Robinett he had an altercation with his mother.”

Taylor told the deputy his mother had come at him with a knife, Eudaley said.

Eudaley said Taylor further reported he had “struck his mother with a baseball bat, and she had fallen on the knife.”

Taylor reportedly provided the deputy with his mother’s address at Ellsinore.

At about 7:40 p.m., Boyer said, he responded to Hall’s residence for what was described as a well-being check.

“Chief Boyer advised (Eudaley) he arrived and located Ms. Hall, and he asked (her) who did this, and she stated, ‘Dakota,’” the probable-cause said.

Hall identified “Dakota” as her son, Eudaley said.

Emergency-medical-services personnel also had responded to the scene.

Eudaley said he contacted Daryl Bequette Sr., an emergency-medical technician. Bequette reported finding Hall seated on the toilet of a restroom in her residence.

“Mr. Bequette stated he asked Ms. Hall if she had been stabbed, and (she) stated, ‘no,’” Eudaley said. “(He) advised … Ms. Hall stated he (Mr. Taylor) ‘cut her …’

“(He) stated Ms. Hall was very hard to understand due to her injuries.”

Hall sustained what was described as a stab wound, according to Eudaley, “mid sternum, approximately one and a half-inch long and one and one-half inch wide.”

Eudaley said Hall also suffered “severe head trauma to both sides of her head, and (her) right ear almost tore from her head.”

Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens reportedly told Taylor of his rights.

“ … Mr. Taylor stated to Sheriff Stephens, ‘I killed my ------- mom,’” Eudaley said. “Mr. Taylor stated to Sheriff Stephens he took the knife from Ms. Hall and pointed it at her.

“Ms. Hall fell on the knife, so he struck her with the bat.”

Taylor, Eudaley said, further reported his mother had “wanted him out of her residence.”

Taylor remains in custody at this time. No date has been set for his next court appearance before Associate Circuit Judge Steve Lynxwiler.