Taylor McFadden Robinson was a successful entrepreneur and a rising star in the real estate world of Florence, South Carolina. The 29-year-old Black woman was a dedicated mother to two sons and the founder of several businesses, including Tayler Robinson Real Estate. Her sister described her as "a mother, a sister, a successful entrepreneur, my very best friend."
Family said she was known for going out of her way for her clients and had worked her way up from the bottom to build her career.
On the morning of Sunday, January 23, 2022, Taylor was found deceased in her home on Rice Planters Lane. An autopsy later confirmed that she had died from a single gunshot wound to the head. The investigation immediately focused on her estranged husband, Duncan Allen Robinson, Jr., who was 31 at the time. He was arrested later the same day and taken into custody without incident.
Police charged Duncan Robinson Jr. with murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Prosecutors later revealed that home surveillance footage had captured him breaking into Taylor’s home. One source reported that he shot and killed her in front of their two children. He was held at the Florence County Detention Center and was repeatedly denied bond.
In the wake of her death, it was revealed that Taylor had previously sought help from the legal system. In March 2021, she had petitioned for an order of protection against her husband. In court documents and testimony, she detailed his threatening behavior, alleging that he had kicked in her door on two occasions, followed her, and tried to run her over with his car. Despite her plea, a Florence County Family Court judge denied the request, citing a "failure to prove facts of alleged abuse" and advising the couple to get attorneys and file for divorce. Taylor's death sparked outrage in the community and highlighted concerns about protections for victims of domestic abuse.
Duncan Robinson Jr.’s trial was scheduled to begin with jury selection in November 2024. On November 19, 2024, he opted to plead guilty to murder, burglary, and a weapons charge. A judge sentenced him to two separate life sentences for murder and first-degree burglary, with an additional five years for possession of a weapon during a violent crime. With his plea and sentencing, the case was officially closed as of November 2024.
