What happened to Sean Taylor's murderers? Looking at the 4 culprits' fate

Sean Taylor would have celebrated his 40th birthday on April 1. The late Washington Redskins free safety was shot in the leg by burglars who burst into his home on November 18, 2007. He died at Jackson Memorial Hospital the following day.

Nicknamed "Meast" from the expression "half man, half beast," Taylor was known for his aggressive and hard-hitting playing style. He was a standout player right from his high school days down to college football.

Coming out of the Miami Hurricanes football program, Taylor was drafted by the Redskins as the fifth overall pick in 2004. He was the first of a record six players drafted from the University of Miami in the first round. He signed a six-year contract with the Redskins and was primed for a bright future on the professional stage.

However, the safety's life was tragically cut short on that fateful day in November 2007. He was at his home in Florida during the NFL season when he was shot by intruders during a botched burglary attempt. Taylor was critically injured and was rushed to the hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries the next day, November 28, 2007, at the age of 24.

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The Fate of the Culprits Involved in Sean Taylor’s Murder

After Sean Taylor's tragic death, the police department immediately commenced investigations. Four men were eventually arrested and charged in connection with the crime.

Eric Rivera, the alleged shooter, was arrested on November 30th and charged with first-degree murder, armed burglary, and other related charges. Three additional suspects - Venjah Hunte, Jason Scott Mitchell, and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow - were also arrested.

Timothy Brown, who was 16 years old at the time, was charged with first-degree murder and burglary as the fifth suspect in the case in May 2008. Later on in the trial, all the murder charges against the five suspects were elevated to first-degree murder.

Just 17 years old at the time of the crime, Eric Rivera eventually stood trial in October 2013. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted of second-degree murder and armed burglary in November 2013. He was sentenced to 57 and a half years in prison in January 2014.

Unlike Rivera, the other three suspects involved in the former player's murder have all pleaded guilty to various charges. They agreed to cooperate with the prosecution in exchange for reduced sentences.

Hunte and Wardlow both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges and were sentenced to 29 and 30 years in prison, respectively. Brown pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Mitchell, on the other hand, was sentenced to life imprisonment.