In a sweeping crackdown on a nearly two-decade-old mystery, five men have been hauled in for the kidnapping and slaying of a Philly man back in 2006. An indictment unsealed yesterday slapped Kevin Holloway, 45; Mark Scott, 48; Linton Mathis, 50; Atiba Wicker, 47; and Kenneth Tuck, 51, with a slew of charges, including conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and aiding and abetting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The sinister plot unraveled on August 26, 2006, when Shamari Taylor, then 38, and his girlfriend, who was 21 at the time, were snatched from West Philadelphia. Their abductors, dressed as cops wielding fake badges and firearms, interrogated and tortured Taylor to spill the beans on his cocaine stash and cash. While his girlfriend was dumped hours later, as part of the conspiracy, Taylor suffocated under their watch and was dumped in Fairmount Park - only to be unearthed in a shallow North Philly grave 12 years on.
This breakthrough comes after painstaking probes saw Tuck firstly charged in 2006 over the botched kidnapping but later acquitted post two trials. The grim narrative unfolded further, revealing Tuck's comrades Holloway, Scott, and Mathis were the executioners behind Taylor's murder. The U.S. Attorney's Office disclosed, with a sense of justice long overdue, that Wicker and another plotted alongside, drawing Taylor into their lethal trap.
Following years of dogged investigation, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero pledged no mercy for those skulking in the shadows of past atrocities. "Anyone who commits a heinous crime and is still walking free years later might just assume they’ve gotten away with it," Romero stated in a declaration obtained by the Justice Department. She vowed, "Well, they should think again. We and our law enforcement partners will doggedly pursue justice for victims of violence and accountability for the perpetrators — no matter how long it may take."
The concerted efforts of the FBI, DEA, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and the Philly PD, who have tirelessly pieced together this saga from its cold-case status, were lauded by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. "Today's charges are the culmination of years of relentless pursuit of justice for Shamari Taylor and his loved ones," Bethel announced in a statement shared by the Justice Department.
Resolute in their stance, law enforcement authorities assert that this indictment proves their unwavering commitment to serving justice, regardless of time's passage. With the defendants potentially facing mandatory life imprisonment if convicted, the case serves as a stark reminder that the pursuit of justice knows no expiration date. Investigations were conducted by the FBI, Philly PD, DEA, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, with Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Ashenfelter and Jason Grenell leading the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and despite the gravity of the charges, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. For more details on the indictment, visit the Department of Justice website.
