NBC's Dateline: The Necklace will follow the tragic and shocking murder case of 33-year-old Taylor Wright. She was a private investigator and former police officer who disappeared from Pensacola, Florida, on September 8, 2017. Her body was found buried on a distant farm nearly a month later.
An investigation into her death revealed that Taylor's best friend, Ashley McArthur, was the one who had shot and killed Wright. Dateline: The Necklace will delve deeper into Taylor's murder, the investigation, and the reason behind the crime. The episode is set to air on Oxygen on Monday, September 30, 2024.
This article will take a look at Taylor Wright and Ashley's background as well as the investigation into the murder, its aftermath, and the history of the NBC show.
Background of Dateline
Dateline is one of the longest-running television news magazines on NBC. It narrates stories of true crimes, investigative journalism, and human interest pieces. Dateline is known to bring deep reporting and compelling storytelling.
The upcoming episode of Dateline follows a real-life crime that took place in Florida and gives viewers a glimpse into how and why the crime occurred. It provides insights into what the case entails and the effects it has on the victim's family, friends, and the community at large.
About the crime
The murder of Taylor Wright shocked her friends and family in Florida after the killer confessed about it in Indiana. At the time of her death, Taylor was in the middle of a contentious divorce and had withdrawn $100,000 from a joint account. She gave her friend Ashley McArthur that amount for safekeeping.
Since Ashley didn't return any of the money to Taylor, she confronted Ashley, right before Taylor went missing. It was also the last time anyone saw Taylor alive. Since she went missing suddenly, her family was worried, and although they reported it to the authorities, the initial investigation didn't raise any red flags.
It was only after her body was recovered that people realized what had happened to her. Taylor's body was found buried with concrete and potting soil on some land that Ashley's family owned. She had been shot in the back of her head, which led to her death.
Investigation
Given that Taylor's body was found on Ashley's family's farm, police suspected the latter of having something to do with the murder. They also found concrete and potting soil, which indicated that the killer had tried to hide the body. They further realized that Ashley had spent most of the money Taylor gave her, leading to her having a motive for murder.
The case against Ashley was strengthened when police found security footage of Ashley buying cement and potting soil a day after Taylor's disappearance. Witnesses testified that the two women had been involved in a financial dispute.
Ashley McArthur was arrested on the grounds of first-degree murder charges. During the trial, the prosecution used security camera footage and other testimonies of the witnesses to prove that Ashley was guilty. A jury eventually found her guilty of the murder and sentenced her to life in prison.
Aftermath
The murder left a lasting impact not just on Taylor's family but also on her community. Her former girlfriend, Cassandra Waller, was devastated by the tragedy. She, however, played an important role in the investigation, as she was the one who reported Taylor missing.
This case served as an important reminder of trust and the consequences that ensued when the trust was lost. Taylor's story is a tragic reminder of the dangers that lie in wait behind seemingly close relationships.
Dateline: The Necklace will cover Taylor's case in detail along with the investigation that led to the capture of her killer. The episode will air on Monday, September 30, 2024, only on Oxygen.