The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly.  This information, however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

TAYLOR, Steven (W/M)

DC #:   288500

DOB:   09/25/69

­­­Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case #91-2456

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable R. Hudson Oliff

Attorney, Trial: Frank Tassone – Special Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: David A. Davis – Assistant PublicDefender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Michael Reiter – Registry

Date of Offense: 09/15/90

Date of Sentence: 12/09/91

Circumstances of Offense:

Steven Taylor was convicted and sentenced to death for themurder of Alice Vest.

Vest arrived at her mobile home around 11:30 p.m. on09/15/90.  Near midnight, Taylor and Gerald Murray, Taylor’s codefendant,were dropped off close to the victim’s neighborhood after riding aroundlistening to the radio with a third person.  During the early morning of09/16/90, a Ford Ranchero was reported missing from the same area.  Apasserby reported seeing the automobile near Vest’s home at around 4:30 a.m.that morning.  The automobile was found behind a car dealership nearTaylor’s residence later in the day on 09/16/90.

On the morning of 09/16/90, a neighbor found the body ofVest in her bedroom.  According to the medical examiner, Vest was sexuallyassaulted.  She also was stabbed approximately 20 times with a knife and apair of scissors that were found at the scene.  The medical examinerdetermined that Vest was strangled after the stabbing.  In addition to theother injuries, the medical examiner found that Vest had suffered head injuriesand a fractured jaw.  The medical examiner determined that the fracturedjaw was probably due to being hit with a bottle and the other head injurieswere probably due to being struck with a metal bar and candlestick.  Thebottle, metal bar and candlestick were all found at the scene.  Themedical examiner also found bruises on her breasts.  According to trialtestimony, the phone line had been severed.  Trial testimony furtherrevealed that Vest’s home had been burglarized and that jewelry was missing.

In December 1990, Taylor moved out the duplex that he hadbeen living in with a roommate.  Taylor’s former roommate removed a fencefrom the property the following month.  While removing the fence, he founda bag that was buried and contained jewelry.  The former roommate gave thejewelry to the police and made a statement.  It was determined that thejewelry was taken from Vest’s home the night of the burglary and murder.

In January 1991, Taylor accompanied by friends returned tothe duplex to visit his former roommate.  The former roommate observedTaylor go into the backyard and look at the area from which he had previouslyremoved the fence.  The next month, Taylor and his friends again visitedTaylor’s former roommate.  Taylor walked into the backyard to the areawhere the fence had previously stood.  One of the individuals, who hadarrived at the duplex with Taylor, testified that Taylor come in from thebackyard with dirt on his hands.  He further testified that when hequestioned Taylor about what he was doing, Taylor said he was looking forsomething that was not where he had left it. 

On 02/14/91, the Duval County Sheriff’s Office, authorizedby a search warrant and acquired blood, saliva and hair samples fromTaylor.  After the samples were taken, Taylor asked one of the officershow long before the results would be ready.  The officer inquired into whyTaylor wanted to know.  Taylor replied that he wanted to know when theywould be coming to get him.  An analyst from the Florida Department of LawEnforcement testified that the semen found on Vest’s clothing matched Taylor’sDNA profile. 

Timothy Cowart, who had occupied the same cell as Taylor,testified at the trial.  According to Cowart, Taylor said that he beenpart of a burglary that had gone badly.  Taylor said that he and anaccomplice had been robbing a mobile home when the owner arrived home and thathe had stabbed and choked her.  Taylor also claimed to have strangled thevictim to ensure that she was dead.  Furthermore, Cowart said that Taylorclaimed that the prosecution had enough evidence against him to secure aconviction.  Cowart also claimed that Taylor asked for his assistance inan escape plan.

Codefendant Information:

Gerald Murray

Gerald Murray (DC# 291140) was convicted of First-DegreeMurder, Burglary and Sexual Assault with a Weapon.  He was sentenced todeath for the First-Degree Murder conviction on 4/15/94.  Murray alsoreceived a life sentence on 4/15/94 for each conviction of Burglary and SexualAssault.

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

02/16/91         Taylor was arrested.

09/12/91         Taylor was indicted on the following counts:

                                   Count I:           First-DegreeMurder (Alice Vest)

                                   Count II:         Burglary of anOccupied Dwelling

                                   Count III:        Sexual Battery with DeadlyWeapon

10/10/91         Taylor was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

10/17/91         Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 10 to 2 majority,

                       voted for the death penalty.

12/09/91         Taylor was sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder (Alice Vest) – Death

                                   Count II:         Burglary of anOccupied Dwelling – 15 Years

                                   Count III:        Sexual Battery with DeadlyWeapon – 27 Years

Appeals Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC #79,080

630 So. 2d 1038

12/16/91         Appeal filed.

12/16/93         FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence.

02/10/94         Rehearing denied.

03/14/94         Mandate issued.

United State Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari

USSC #93-9068

513 U.S. 832

05/11/94         Petition filed.

10/03/94         USSC denied the petition.

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 91-2456

11/01/95         Motion filed.

06/23/03         Amended motion filed.

05/13/04         Amended motion filed.

05/23/05         Amended motion filed.

06/22/09         Motion denied.

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 09-1382

07/31/09         Appeal filed.

02/10/11          FSC affirmed decision of the lower court.

02/21/11          Motion for Rehearing filed.

03/07/11          Motion denied.

04/25/11          Mandate issued.

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus

FSC# 10-143

01/27/10          Petition filed.

02/10/11          Petition denied.

02/21/11          Motion for Rehearing filed.

03/07/11          Motion denied.

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

The 3.850 Motion has been pending since 11/01/95. 

Case Information:

Taylor filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Courton 12/16/91.  The issues addressed included that the trial court erred innot suppressing Taylor’s conversation with a police officer after the DNAsamples were taken and after Taylor invoked his right to remain silent and hisright to counsel.  Taylor further contended that the trial court erred inadmitting evidence that the stolen Ford Ranchero was seen near the Vest’s homeand then found near Taylor’s residence, in admitting cumulative photographs ofVest’s body because they created a prejudicial effect and in finding the murderto be heinous, atrocious or cruel.  Taylor also argued that the trialcourt erred in admitting testimony about Taylor’s plan to attempt anescape.  The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warrantedreversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentenceon 12/16/93.  Rehearing was denied on 02/10/94.  A mandate was issuedon 03/14/94.

On 05/11/94, Taylor filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorariin the United States Supreme Court.  The petition was denied on 10/03/94.

Taylor filed a 3.850 Motion in the circuit court on11/01/95.  An amended 3.850 Motion was filed on 06/23/03, 05/13/04, and05/23/05.  This motion was denied on 06/22/09.

On 07/31/09, Taylor filed a 3.850 Appeal in the FloridaSupreme Court. The FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion on 02/10/11. AMotion for Rehearing was filed on 02/21/11, and it was denied 03/07/11. Amandate was issued on 04/25/11.

On 01/27/10, Taylor filed a Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus in the Florida Supreme Court. This petition was denied on 02/10/11. AMotion for Rehearing was filed on 02/21/11, and it was denied 03/07/11.

Institutional Adjustment:

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date:    12/05/02        S.Q.

Approved:       02/28/03         W.S.

Updated:         04/26/11         EMJ