In the early hours of a spring morning in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on April 7, 2017, the life of 17-year-old Olivia McIntosh, a white female, was tragically cut short in an act of devastating violence that also claimed the lives of her sister and father. The horrific events unfolded in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, forever altering the lives of those who knew and loved the McIntosh family.
The incident stemmed from a heated custody dispute involving Olivia's 19-year-old sister, Maria
McIntosh. The father of Maria's 18-month-old daughter, 20-year-old Jeffrey Jemaile Taylor, was identified as the primary suspect in the brutal slayings. In what appeared to be a premeditated act, Taylor went to the McIntosh family's apartment with the intention of taking his child. A violent confrontation ensued, during which Taylor fatally shot Maria, Olivia, and their 47-year-old father, Wade McIntosh. The girls' mother was also shot and critically injured during the attack but survived.
Following the shootings, Taylor fled the scene with the toddler, prompting a frantic search. A second individual, 19-year-old Jeffrey Arkis Taylor, was later discovered hiding in a shed with the unharmed child. He was promptly arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and aiding and abetting murder. However, he was later released from jail as authorities determined more investigation was needed to understand the full scope of his involvement in the tragic events.
The search for the main suspect, Jeffrey Jemaile Taylor, came to a somber end when he was found deceased in a wooded area not far from the scene of the crime. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Before taking his own life, Taylor had reportedly contacted his mother, telling her of his intention to kill himself. The tragic outcome of the custody dispute left a community in mourning and a young child without her parents.
