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The murder of Taylor Wright, who was 33 and a private investigator as well as having retired from the police, was a shock to the people of Pensacola, Florida. On September 8, 2017, Taylor went missing, and one month later, her body was located buried on a remote farm.
This case showed a chilling act of betrayal at the hands of someone she trusted like a close friend. It makes one consider how trust can be broken in the most horrific ways. The episode of NBC's Dateline titled "The Necklace," which covers the case of Taylor Wright's murder, airs on September 30, 2024.
Here are five chilling facts about the murder of Taylor Wright and why the crime was so tragic and brutal.
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Five shocking details about Taylor Wright's murder
1) The Disappearance
Taylor Wright was last seen on September 8, 2017. She was in the midst of a contentious divorce and had withdrawn $100,000 from the joint account.
She gave $34,000 to her friend Ashley McArthur for safekeeping. On the day she disappeared, Taylor had a confrontation with Ashley for not paying back the money to her.
She was the last person who had seen Taylor alive after that. Her disappearance aroused quite a lot of alarm when it happened. However, the initial investigations couldn't establish any foul play. It was only after her dead body was found that the horror of her fate was revealed.
2) The Discovery
Taylor's body was discovered on a farm owned by Ashley McArthur's relatives. She had been shot in the back of the head, and her body was covered with concrete and potting soil. These materials revealed evidence of an intent to hide the crime.
When she was found, the case against Ashley McArthur changed direction, and Ashley was charged with murder. The brutality of the crime and Ashley's effort to hide the body shocked everyone involved in the case.
3) Motive
The motive for Taylor Wright's murder was monetary. Taylor had confided in Ashley a large portion of money during her divorce. When Taylor requested that Ashley return the money, Ashley - having spent some - decided to kill her friend to avoid repaying her.
This betrayal by a friend brought to light the extent people could go to avoid having their misdeeds exposed. A monetary incentive was among the prosecution's evidence in the trial of Ashley McArthur.
4) The Trial
Ashley McArthur was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During the trial, evidence included security footage that had Ashley buying concrete and potting soil the very day after Taylor had disappeared. Witnesses also testified that a financial fight had ensued between the two women.
The jury gave its verdict - find Ashley McArthur guilty - and sentenced her to life in prison. The verdict brought some sort of justice to Taylor Wright and their family. However, the psychological scars of the brutal killing remain.
5) Aftermath
After the murder of Taylor Wright, the aftermath was long-lasting, as it caused a long-term impact on her family and friends. Her ex-girlfriend, Casandra Waller, who reported her missing, provided some much-needed information that led to the search for the killer.
The case showed how forensic evidence solves crimes. Taylor's story stands as a classic example about trust and betrayal.
These facts of her disappearance, the discovery of the body, the financial motive, the killer's conviction and the aftermath paint a pretty grim picture of things that occurred.
