Man Kills 2 Wives, One With a Clock and the Other With a Lake
When Kathy Taylor's lifeless body was discovered in her bathtub in 1975, her husband Earl painted a chillingly convenient picture: a freak accident involving a clock radio. Decades later, after he had already served 25 years in prison for murdering his second wife, Mindy, the truth about Kathy's death finally came to light. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't chance. It was murder. Thanks to a relentless investigation sparked by the TNT television show "Cold Justice," Earl Taylor, a man who mastered the art of the alibi, now faces justice for the heinous crime he tried so hard to bury.
How did Earl Taylor escape justice for so long?
Earl Taylor seemed to have all the answers when police questioned him about Kathy Taylor's death. At just 22 years old, he claimed to have come home to a tragic scene: his 23-year-old wife electrocuted in their bathtub by a clock radio that had fallen in.
But from the start, things didn't add up. Earl didn't call the police right away. Instead, he moved Kathy's body and phoned his father, who later reported her death to authorities. His story unraveled even further when investigators noticed the clock radio's cord had been altered, extended to reach the bathtub in a way the original design wouldn't allow.
Adding to the suspicion, Kathy had reportedly told an insurance agent shortly before her death that she feared Earl might kill her. The fear wasn't baseless. Investigators later discovered Earl had taken out multiple life insurance policies on Kathy without her knowledge. Despite these glaring red flags, Earl avoided charges — at least for a time.
What finally broke the case wide open?
The case gained renewed attention nearly 50 years later when "Cold Justice," a true-crime television series on TNT, collaborated with the Vigo County Sheriff's Office. Re-examining old evidence, they uncovered more inconsistencies in Earl's alibi. His detailed, minute-by-minute explanation of his whereabouts that day sounded more rehearsed than real. A forensic pathologist testified that Kathy had drowned after being held face-down in the water, contradicting Earl's claim of accidental electrocution. The television show's involvement brought fresh energy to the case, and new forensic analysis sealed Earl's fate.
Earl's motive for the murder? Money. Detectives revealed he stood to gain financially from Kathy's death through the insurance policies he secretly took out. Kathy's suspicions and fears were tragically confirmed.
What happened to Mindy Taylor?
Earl's crimes didn't stop with Kathy. More than a decade after her death, in 1987, his second wife, Mindy Taylor, also met a suspicious end. Her body was found in the driver's seat of her car, which had been submerged in an Indiana lake. Earl claimed they had gone for a late-night drive when Mindy swerved to avoid a raccoon, causing the car to veer into the water. Earl said he managed to escape, but couldn't save Mindy.
Investigators quickly poked holes in his story. The driver's seat had been pushed too far back for Mindy to reach the pedals, and her seatbelt was fastened in the wrong receptacle, trapping her arms. Mindy had drowned without showing any signs of a struggle. Earl's explanation didn't hold water — literally. Prosecutors revealed he had once again taken out substantial life insurance policies on his wife, this time valued at over $600,000, without her knowledge.
What ultimately happened to Earl Taylor?
Convicted in 1988, Earl received a 60-year sentence for Mindy's murder. He served 25 years before his release in 2014, but justice caught up with him again in 2022 when new charges were filed in Kathy's death.
In a dramatic turn of events, the case against Earl for Kathy's murder went to trial nearly 50 years after her death. Prosecutors presented compelling evidence, including the altered clock radio cord and testimony from a forensic pathologist who concluded that Kathy had been held face-down in the bathtub. Witnesses also recounted how Kathy had feared for her life and expressed concerns about Earl's financial motives, particularly after learning about the multiple life insurance policies he had secretly taken out on her.
In the end, the jury found Earl guilty of first-degree murder, bringing long-overdue justice to Kathy's memory. The conviction closed one of Vigo County's oldest cold cases and ensured that Earl Taylor would spend the rest of his life behind bars.
What lessons can we learn from these tragedies?
Earl Taylor's story underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and financial greed. His carefully constructed lies fooled investigators for years, but persistence from law enforcement and modern forensic techniques ensured justice for both Kathy and Mindy. "Cold Justice" played a pivotal role in reigniting this case, proving that even decades-old crimes can be solved when investigators refuse to give up.
For the families of Kathy and Mindy, the convictions may bring some measure of closure, but the pain of their loss remains. Kathy's fears, tragically dismissed during her life, should remind us all to take cries for help seriously. Justice came late, but it came nonetheless.
References: Husband who spent 25 years in jail for murdering his second wife is now convicted of murdering his FIRST wife after investigation by cold case TV show | Man guilty in 2nd wife's death faces new charges
