A woman phones 911; she is later found murdered In the quiet town of Wells, Vermont, the life of 40-year-old Francine Morgan, a female, came to a tragic and violent end on August 2, 2008. In the pre-dawn hours, a distressing 911 call was made from her home, capturing the sounds of a struggle that would ultimately fall silent. When police arrived, they discovered Francine Morgan deceased in her bedroom.
An autopsy would later reveal that she had been beaten and had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her jaw.
Suspicion quickly fell upon the only other person present in the house at the time: her 14-year-old son, Christian Taylor. In the days following his mother's death, Taylor was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He entered a plea of not guilty. The young man was initially held on a high bail at a juvenile facility. He reportedly told police that he had dreamt of a shadowy figure attacking his mother.
The legal proceedings that followed saw Taylor's bail significantly reduced, and he was subsequently released into the custody of a guardian. He was granted permission by the court to continue his education under strict supervision. Despite the initial arrest and the gravity of the charges brought against her son, the case of Francine Morgan's death took a turn into ambiguity.
Years after the initial investigation and charges, the Vermont State Police continue to list the death of Francine Morgan as an unsolved homicide. The details of why the case remains open, despite an arrest having been made, are not publicly available. The ultimate disposition of the charges against Christian Taylor—whether they were dismissed, or if the case went to trial with an acquittal—is not clear from available online sources. This lack of resolution leaves a lingering question mark over the violent end to a life in the small Vermont community.
