Tashaun Jackson, a 31-year-old African American woman from Cocoa, FL, was tragically killed on February 9, 2019. Jackson, a mother of four, was last seen leaving a 7-Eleven store on Dixon Boulevard and a nearby McDonald’s, not far from her residence. She had left her purse at home and intended to run a quick errand. However, she never returned home.
Her body was discovered six days later in a remote area of Osceola County.
The investigation revealed that Jackson was kidnapped and shot to death by Joshua Taylor, a 30-year-old man who had known Jackson since childhood. Taylor, who had recently completed a 12-year prison sentence for an unrelated carjacking charge, targeted Jackson because she was a witness in another criminal case against him. Authorities believe that Taylor approached Jackson on the day she went missing, forced her into his car, and subsequently shot her to death before disposing of her body in Osceola County.
Taylor was arrested nearly three weeks after Jackson's disappearance. He was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. During a press conference, Cocoa Police Chief Mike Cantaloupe stated that Taylor was the only suspect in the case and that they had a solid timeline and physical evidence to prove their case against him. Taylor was ordered held without bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex.
The motive for the murder was linked to an attempted sexual battery case from September 2018, in which Jackson was the victim and had provided testimony against Taylor. Family members reported that Taylor had intimidated Jackson, causing her to be concerned for her safety. Despite her concerns, no protection orders were issued against Taylor.
The case garnered significant attention, with Jackson's family and friends holding vigils and pleading for information on her whereabouts. The arrest of Taylor brought some relief to Jackson's family, who expressed their hope for justice and their commitment to ensuring the care of Jackson’s four children.
