In a somber turn of events, Brooklyn resident Duane Taylor, 50, has pled guilty to the kidnapping of a minor child from her home in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 2022. According to a press release issued by the Department of Justice, Taylor, who also faced charges related to child pornography, entered his plea in front of United States District Court Judge John M. Gallagher.
The case unfolded after the City of Reading police were alerted on August 31, 2022, when the child's mother discovered her daughter missing and the back door chain lock broken. Video surveillance footage from the home was instrumental in identifying Taylor, who was found to have entered the house early in the morning and was recorded leaving with the young victim. Taylor was indicted on a slew of charges, including kidnapping and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, among others.
Following the early morning abduction, investigators collaborated with the New York City Police Department to locate Taylor at his residence in Brooklyn. However, the victim was not found with him at the time. It was a concerned citizen who later that day called 911 to report a child alone on the streets asking for help, which ultimately led to her safe rescue, as detailed by the same press release.
Taylor's sentencing is set for September 18, facing a possible life sentence. This case highlights the success of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to fight child sexual exploitation. The FBI, Reading Police, NYPD, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosalynda M. Michetti and Josh A. Davison played key roles in the investigation and prosecution.
