Man accused of killing, burying woman is found unfit for trial

A man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death, and cleaning up the crime scene before burying her body in another county, has been found unfit to proceed to trial because of alleged intellectual disability.

A psychologist with the Arkansas State Hospital has also found that Tony Taylor, 58, represents a low-risk for future violence.

"This report flies in the face of logic," Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Potter Black said. "We will contest these findings."

Taylor is facing charges of murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in the March 2017 death of 35-year-old Crystal Reed. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in May 2017.

Since then, Taylor has twice been evaluated by the same Arkansas State Hospital staff psychologist.

In reports dated Oct. 25, 2017, and Aug. 17 of this year, forensic psychologist Lacey Willett Matthews concludes that Taylor's level of intellectual functioning prevents him from understanding what is happening in the court process or assisting his lawyer in preparing a defense, both of which are required for a finding of competency under legal standards.

The reports note that Taylor is illiterate.

Following receipt of the first report, Circuit Judge Carlton Jones ordered Taylor returned to the state hospital for restoration of competency. Restoration can be accomplished through medication for some defendants and through education, such as to how the criminal justice process works, for others.

Jones signed the order on Nov. 14, 2017. Court records indicate Taylor waited in the Miller County jail at least seven months for a bed at the state hospital, as docket notes from a June 12 status hearing indicate Taylor was still in jail on that date.

"Although Mr. Taylor is presently charged with a violent offense, his involvement in the alleged offense has not yet been proven in a court of law. He has no substantial history of violent behavior, nor has he ever been convicted of a violent criminal offense," the Aug. 17 report states. "In the event that the current allegations against Mr. Taylor are proven to be true, his risk for future violence could increase."

Taylor cannot be found guilty if a finding of "not fit to proceed" exists. Taylor, however, allegedly possessed the insight to clean the crime scene and to dispose of evidence in two jurisdictions beyond the site of the murder.

Taylor allegedly led Texarkana, Ark., detectives to Reed's makeshift grave on a hunting lease in Ogden, Ark., in Little River County after confessing to stabbing her to death in the unit she and Taylor shared in the Smith Keys Apartments, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. Since Reed's disappearance, crime scene investigators collected a number of pieces of evidence from unit 127 of Smith Keys, including flooring, furniture, door knobs and knives.

Court documents charging Taylor allege Reed was murdered March 6, 2017, the day before her mother reported her missing. The mother told police her daughter had uncharacteristically missed work and wasn't answering her phone. Texarkana, Texas, police officers assisted in the investigation March 8, 2017, when they collected moving blankets, a shovel, rubber boots and dirty gloves from a backyard on Pine Street after receiving a report that Taylor had recently left the items there.

The blankets appeared to be stained with blood.

Taylor faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison if convicted of murder. If found guilty of abuse of a corpse, he faces three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. If convicted of tampering with physical evidence, Taylor faces up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Taylor remains in the Miller County jail. Bail is set at $750,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 20.

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