A Milwaukee County judge on Friday, March 6, sentenced Melanie Taylor to 15 years in prison for her role in a home invasion at the Plymouth Apartments that left a 70-year-old man dead. A jury had convicted Taylor in November of felony murder and robbery, and the court tacked on nine years of extended supervision to follow her prison term. While Taylor’s part of the case is now resolved, a second defendant is still on the calendar for trial next month, as reported by WISN.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Prosecutors say the attack unfolded just after midnight on April 25, 2025, inside the gated Plymouth Apartments and ended with one resident dead. Family members later identified the victim as Jerry Rhodes. According to charging documents, the victim’s nephew told investigators he woke up to a man shouting, "Don’t move!" and then saw the assault. Surveillance video captured two people arriving and leaving minutes later carrying a large television. Investigators pulled together surveillance footage, anonymous tips, cell-tower records and fingerprint evidence lifted from the stolen TV to build their case, according to WISN.
Conviction and Sentence
A Milwaukee County jury found Melanie Taylor guilty in November of felony murder and robbery, and on Friday the judge formalized the punishment with a 15-year prison sentence. The court also ordered nine years of extended supervision to follow, according to FOX6, which reviewed court records and the criminal complaint. Prosecutors told the court they say Taylor and an accomplice beat the man to death and stole his television and cellphone. FOX6 also reports that prosecutors have charged Taylor’s son, Isiah Taylor, and that his trial is set for mid April.
Co-defendant Arrested in Oregon
Before the sentencing, Milwaukee police had been looking for Isiah Taylor on a warrant until detectives in Eugene, Oregon, arrested him in July 2025. According to Eugene Police, officers used an automated license plate reader to spot a vehicle they believed was tied to the suspect and took him into custody near West 18th Avenue and Lincoln Street. Local court filings later showed prosecutors charged Isiah Taylor with felony murder and armed robbery in the Milwaukee case.
Charges and Next Steps
Prosecutors have charged Isiah Taylor with felony murder and armed robbery and say he is expected to stand trial in mid April, while Melanie Taylor’s sentence is already in place. Initial charging documents and the criminal complaint describe allegations that the two entered the apartment, assaulted the 70-year-old resident and walked out with a television and cellphone, as first reported by CBS58. Court calendars and filings will set the next formal dates in Milwaukee County.
Neighbors React and Evidence Used
Residents of the gated complex say the killing shook the building and raised hard questions about how safe older tenants really are. "We can't be secure in our own homes," one neighbor told WISN after the incident, summing up the mood in the hallways after the first wave of coverage. Police and prosecutors have emphasized that surveillance footage and forensic tests on the recovered television were central to identifying the suspects, underscoring how digital records and physical traces came together to move the investigation forward.
With Melanie Taylor heading to prison, attention now shifts to the mid April trial calendar for Isiah Taylor and any additional filings the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office might pursue. Reporters reviewing court records and local coverage say the case remains active and that upcoming hearings will be the next place to watch for developments.
