Alabama executes death row inmate Michael Taylor for 1991 murder of elderly couple
ATMORE, Ala. (WAKA) – The state of Alabama has executed the man sentenced to death for a 1991 double murder of an elderly Etowah County couple.
54-year-old Michael Shannon Taylor was put to death by lethal injection at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore Thursday night. His time of death was 6:10 p.m.
Taylor was convicted unanimously by a jury for using a barbell to beat Ivan and Lucille Moore, an elderly couple he knew, in 1991.
What Happened in 1991:
According to the Attorney General’s Office, back on November 4th, 1991, 19-year-old Michael Shannon Taylor—who was on leave without leave from the U.S. Navy – got a ride over to the Gadsden home of Ivan and Lucille Moore, an elderly couple he already knew.
When he got there, Taylor left his duffel bag outside and asked 83-year-old Mr. Moore if he could use the phone. Mr. Moore offered him a snack, and 79-year-old Mrs. Moore stepped in to say a quick hello before both of them briefly left the room. Taking advantage of the moment, Taylor slipped back outside, grabbed a barbell from his bag, and hid it under his shirt.
When Mr. Moore returned and asked if Taylor wanted anything else to eat, Taylor said yes. But while Mr. Moore was looking through the fridge, Taylor suddenly attacked him from behind, striking him in the head with the barbell.
Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Moore rushed into the kitchen and found her husband collapsed on the floor. As she bent down to help him, Taylor turned on her and began hitting her with the heavy metal bar. When Mr. Moore tried to crawl away, Taylor struck him repeatedly—and when Mrs. Moore begged for mercy, he hit her again.
With both victims down, Taylor looted the house, stealing Mr. Moore’s wallet, Mrs. Moore’s purse, a checkbook, and their 1986 Cadillac. He fled to Birmingham, where over the next five days he cashed $1,500 worth of their checks and went on a shopping spree for new clothes and jewelry.
A neighbor discovered the Moores on November 6. By then, Mr. Moore had died on his kitchen floor. Mrs. Moore was still unconscious when found, but she died from her injuries a few days later. The cause of death for both was severe blunt-force injuries to the head, resulting in fractured skulls.
Taylor was arrested outside the Galleria in Hoover after trying to leave in the Moores’ stolen Cadillac.
He later confessed to beating the Moores during a robbery. He was indicted on two counts of murder in the first degree and one count of murder of two or more persons during one act. The jury found Taylor guilty on all counts and unanimously recommended the death penalty, which the trial judge accepted.
Taylor became eligible for execution in November 2016 after exhausting his direct appeals and post-conviction remedies.
Reaction:
Attorney General Steve Marshall tonight issued a statement following the execution, saying
“35 years ago yesterday, Ivan and Lucille Moore kindly opened their home to Michael Taylor. Mr. Taylor repaid the Moores by beating them to death with a metal bar, all to rob them for money to buy clothing and jewelry. His actions were reprehensible and despite his attempts to evade the consequences, he is facing the Good Lord for final judgement tonight.
“California may let their criminals escape justice, but not Alabama. Here, we enforce the law and always will.” – Governor Kay Ivey
Governor Kay Ivey decided not to exercise her clemency powers in this case and directed the execution to proceed. She also released a statement, saying:
“Tonight is long overdue for the relatives and loved ones of Ivan and Lucille Moore. Thirty-five years ago, the Moores showed kindness to a young man in need and were callously murdered for it.
No excuse can justify Taylor’s gruesome and brutal crimes, and a jury of his peers agreed with the prosecution. They swiftly found Taylor guilty on all counts and unanimously recommended death, and the trial judge accepted that recommendation.
I commend my office’s incredible Capital Litigation Division for their dedication to this devastatingly grotesque case and for continuing the fight to give Ivan and Lucille the justice their lives deserved.”
