Amber Taylor, a 28-year-old woman from Paige, Texas, was found fatally shot on the side of the road in Del Valle on October 31, 2016. Initially believed to be a hit-and-run incident, a preliminary autopsy report later revealed that she had died from gunshot wounds, and her death was ruled a homicide. Taylor was the mother of two young daughters, aged 6 and 8.
Authorities believe the murder was drug-related.
Taylor had a history of substance abuse, including methamphetamine, and had recently been released from jail on marijuana possession charges. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Travis County Sheriff's Office, launched an investigation into her death.
In February 2018, Charles Jeremy Smith, a 40-year-old man, was indicted for Taylor's murder. According to an arrest affidavit, Smith confessed to a friend that he had shot Taylor because she was "trying to get me f—-ed off with the Mexicans". Smith was arrested on November 28, 2016, and held on a murder charge and a second felony for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. His bail was set at $600,000.
The investigation revealed that Smith had been driving a stolen black pickup truck on the day of the murder. The vehicle was found with significant damage and bloodstains, supporting the theory that Taylor was shot inside the vehicle and then dumped on the side of the road.
Taylor's murder is one of several homicides that occurred in the Del Valle area in late 2016, many of which were believed to be drug-related. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office reformed their narcotics team in response to the increase in drug-related offenses and added two drug K-9s to assist in their investigations.
Taylor's father, Don Taylor, described her as a kind-hearted mother who always smiled, despite her struggles with addiction. He expressed his grief and the impact of her loss on their family.
The case remains a significant part of the ongoing efforts to address drug-related violence in the Del Valle area, with authorities continuing to seek justice for Amber Taylor and other victims of similar crimes.
