On October 4, 2023, authorities conducted a welfare check at the Naples Island residence of 75-year-old Judy Strother-Taylor and her husband, 81-year-old Lawrence Eric Taylor, after concerns arose when the couple failed to answer their phone or door. Inside the home, both were found deceased from gunshot wounds to the head. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office classified Judy's death as a homicide and Lawrence's as a suicide, leading investigators to treat the incident as a murder-suicide.
According to Chris Taylor, Lawrence's son, Judy had been suffering from an advanced form of Parkinson's disease, which had significantly impacted her quality of life. Lawrence had been her primary caregiver, dedicating himself to her support through numerous medical appointments and challenges. Chris suggested that his father's actions were driven by a desire to end Judy's suffering and his unwillingness to live without her. He stated, "The pain and suffering were too much for her, and my father didn’t want to continue in this world without the wife he loved so much by his side."
Judy had a distinguished career in youth mentoring, human development, and juvenile justice. She worked at the White House Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention and served as the Project Director for the U.S. Department of Education's national mentoring initiative. She was also the founder of "Pretty Good Cat," a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured cats.
Lawrence was a retired attorney with a notable career, including serving as the trial judge’s legal advisor in the Charles Manson case and as Supreme Court counsel in the high-profile Onion Field murder case. He was also a former Marine and had been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in Southern California.
The couple had been together for over 30 years and were well-known in their community. Their deaths have been a source of profound grief for family, friends, and neighbors. Chris Taylor expressed his heartache, stating, "I cannot express the heartache I am feeling right now, but I know that those who knew and loved them will also take solace in that they left this world together."
The Long Beach Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Anyone with information is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Eric Thai at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through 'LA Crime Stoppers' by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477).
