Dorothy Derry, a 60-year-old white woman, was tragically killed on August 4, 1972, in Barrington Hills, Illinois. She was among four victims murdered during a violent home invasion that shocked the suburban community. The other victims were her sister, 58-year-old Marion Corbett; Marion's husband, 67-year-old Paul Corbett; and Marion's daughter, 22-year-old Barbara Boand. The attackers forced the family into a pantry at gunpoint, demanded valuables, and ultimately shot all four victims. The crime was described by law enforcement as a “wholesale slaughter.”
The perpetrators were four young Black Vietnam War veterans: Donald Taylor, Reuben Taylor, Michael Clark, and Nathaniel Burse. They were associated with De Mau Mau, a loosely organized militant group. Authorities believed the murders were racially motivated, as the victims were white and the assailants were Black. The men had driven from Chicago seeking victims and ended up at the Corbett residence. During the invasion, after a family dog barked and was injured, Boand protested, leading Reuben Taylor to shoot her. The assailants then shot the remaining victims.
The bodies were discovered later that evening by Boand's brother, Anthony, when he arrived to return a borrowed car. Donald Taylor, Reuben Taylor, and Michael Clark were convicted in 1974 and sentenced to over 100 years each. Donald Taylor died in prison in 1991. Nathaniel Burse was killed in the Lake County jail while awaiting trial on another matter.
This brutal crime deeply impacted the Barrington Hills community, leading residents to take increased security measures. The case remains a stark reminder of the potential for violence in seemingly peaceful communities.
