Jimmy Dale Taylor - Mountain Madness: A True Story of Murder, Guilt, & Innocence

Copyright 1996 by Jimmy Dale Taylor and Donald G. Bross

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, including electronic, mechanical, or any information storage or retrieval, except as may be expressly permitted in the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher.

Requests for permission should be addressed to:

New Horizon Press

P.O. Box 669

Far Hills, NJ 07931

Taylor, Jimmy Dale and Bross, Donald G.

Mountain Madness: A Deadly Night, A Bloody Secret, A True Story

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-68930

ISBN-13 (eBook): 978-0-88282-530-4

Retitled Murder on Shadow Mountain

New Horizon Press

2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 5 4 3 2 1

To my wife, Jeannie,

and to our children,

Lynn, Julie, and Andy.

J. D. T.

To my wife, Dixie Lee.

D. G .B.

Table of Contents

Contents

Mountain Madness is a true story told from the viewpoint of Jimmy and Jeannie Taylor. The events and dialogue have been reconstructed from court records, letters, interviews and the memories of participants.

Some names have been changed in order to protect the privacy of individuals and in some instances physical characteristics have been altered. Jimmy Dale and Jeannie Taylor, as well as the others in this chronicle, have all experienced the joys and the hell described herein.

Special thanks to my attorneys, Myron Gitnes and Richard Garbutt, along with private investigator Paul Arritola for pursuing the truth and finding it.

To all my family and friends for sticking by me during the darkest of times.

Also, thanks to Donald Bross for seeing to it that the story is told.

J. D.T

Special thanks to Joan Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief at New Horizon Press, for her patience and persistence. Thanks, Joan, for providing us with this opportunity.

D. G. B.

Jimmy sat at the table, steam rising from the coffee in his cup. He lifted his head and smiled at slender little Jeannie with her dark eyes and long brown hair. Time only increased the love he felt for this woman. He couldnt imagine life without her.

The years had been kind to his wife, he realized looking at her. After seventeen years, he still liked to hear the sound of her voice. She had retained her classy Boston accent. He still felt that intense attraction to her. I hope she feels the same about me, he mused.

Jeannie eyed her man as, lost in his thoughts, he toyed with his coffee cup. He had cared for her. He had provided for his family. They had seen the country, but they had suffered through some lean times, too. She wished he didnt look so tired, that they had more time to just be together. She didnt like the long hours Jimmy was having to work, but he was bringing home a good and steady paycheck.

And they needed every bit of it. The ever rising cost of raising three children made sure they hadnt set aside the nest egg they had always been planning to.

Hey, Babe, cheer up, Jimmy said. Its a good day.

Jeannie forced a smile. Who can be cheerful at this time of the morning? Im not so sure the day is going to be all that good, Duke. Dont ask me why, but I have a feeling something is going to happen.

Something with the kids? he asked, suddenly fearful.

She shook her head. I dont know what. I just got this feeling.

Oh, its probably nothing, he said. You know how sensitive you are.

Youre probably right. She smiled back at him. Are you going to be working in town today?

No, Ill be out west. Ill pick up Matt in a few minutes and head out. Probably wont be back until late.

At an hour when most people were just rising, Jimmy left for work. Jeannie sat alone. She felt a cold chill pass over her, as though someone had rubbed ice on her neck. What in the world is wrong with me? she wondered.

In another part of town the posse was assembling. Two deputies from Jackson County, Oregon, had flown in to take control of the prisoner. They hoped to escort the fugitive back to Medford where he would stand trial.

A deputy was already cruising the alley behind the mans home and soon reported back: Too late. His work truck is gone. Now they would have to wait. And hunt. Patrol the neighborhood. Perhaps he was still in town. They couldnt ask his boss. If the fugitive got word of their pursuit, he might leave his family and run.

It was the middle of the morning. The children had gone to school, and Jeannie had switched to drinking hot tea when Tinas sharp bark sounded an alarm. Looking out the back door, Jeannie thought she caught a glimpse of a police car driving down the alley before it disappeared behind their long shed. Or was it a sheriff s car? She shivered.

Why would a police car be here? Jeannie wondered. They certainly hadnt committed a crime. Their worst brush with the law, so far as she knew, was when Jimmy had received a ticket for not having an inspection sticker on their car. They hadnt paid it yet. They dont send officers to your house for that, she told herself. Dont be paranoid, she told herself.

She looked out the back door again. Jeannie thought the view out front to be somewhat rustic. Their front yard was small but had a flowering redbud tree and narrow, rough-hewn stone steps leading down to the street. The steps were quaint-looking but treacherous, and kept intruders away. Once again, she experienced that ominous feeling she had earlier.

Something wasnt right. The police had to be searching for someone. Why would they be looking toward her house? Or was it her imagination?

It was early afternoon when Jeannies phone rang. She plucked the handset from its cradle and spoke a low, Hello. Her voice carried a worried inflection.

Hey, Babe, you sound kind of down.

Im about to go batty, Jim.

Whats the problem?

I feel as though something bad is about to happen. Im feeling that way more and more. Police cars keep driving by like theyre looking for something. What do you think it is?

Who knows? Cant be us.

Where are you working?

Piedmont. Ive been all over today.

What time will you be in?

I dunno. Probably about six. We get back to town, Ill drop Matt off and then Ill be home as quickly as I can.

Ill be glad when youre here. Every time I look outdoors, theres another police car driving by. They keep driving up and down the alley, up and down. Out front, too. Maybe some criminal got loose.

Jeannie, your imagination is getting away.

No, Jim, I know what I see.

Hell, were not criminals, and the chance that some fugitive comes around our place is remote. Hang in there, Babe. Dont let it get to you.

I wish I could, murmured Jeannie, as she hung up the phone.

A visible noose was tightening. Every officer who would be involved with the arrest knew where the fugitive lived. Also, they knew he was driving a blue Ford pickup with identifying letters on each door. Some overzealous cop had already stopped a similar pickup and frightened an innocent citizen.

Sheriffs department and police cars watched the home. They knew he wasnt there. They did not know where he was and they did not know when he would return. Whenever, they would be ready. At the appropriate time, a dispatcher would phone just to be certain.