Timothy Taylor, 38, admitted in Schenectady County Court on July 1 to fatally stabbing his ex-wife, Tishawn Folkes-Taylor, 44, in a brutal attack prosecutors say unfolded while her three children were inside the home. The guilty plea to second-degree murder comes with a sentence of 22 years to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 16.
The plea comes two years after what prosecutors have called one of the most disturbing domestic violence cases the region has ever seen, marked by two killings, chilling confessions, and a lasting impact on multiple children who lost their mothers.
The violence began on May 13, 2023, when Taylor allegedly killed his then-girlfriend, Theresa Gregg, 37, in her Brooklyn apartment. Gregg, a special officer with New York City’s Department of Homeless Services, was found stabbed to death in her bedroom by her twin 12-year-old daughters. According to authorities, Gregg was pregnant at the time and had recently gotten engaged to Taylor.
Just 15 days later, Taylor traveled from North Carolina to Schenectady, N.Y., where Folkes-Taylor lived. He checked into a nearby hotel before breaking into her home and stabbing her more than 22 times, all while her three children were in the house. Two of the children were Taylor’s biological kids.
He fled the scene by jumping from a window, ditching his bloody clothes, and eventually made his way to a bus station, police said.
But what Taylor told detectives after his arrest stunned even seasoned investigators.
According to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, Taylor admitted he had felt remorse for killing Gregg—but said he believed Folkes-Taylor “deserved it.”
“He knew he had to come to Schenectady to kill his former wife because he harbored so much animosity toward her,” District Attorney Robert M. Carney shared in a public statement. “He said, in his own words, she deserved it more than the first victim.”
Despite the horror she faced, Folkes-Taylor showed immense bravery in her final moments.
“While facing down her killer and knowing his intent, she made sure to protect her children,” Carney said. “After stabbing her more than 22 times, Mr. Taylor fled into the night without harming them.”
Her eldest child, a high school student at the time, and extended family members were instrumental in helping prosecutors bring Taylor to justice.
Folkes-Taylor and Taylor were married for a decade, a relationship marked by domestic violence, according to her family. After their 2021 divorce, she obtained a protective order against him, but Taylor had evaded arrest on several pending charges, including harassment and criminal contempt.
At the time of her murder, he was wanted in Schenectady City Court for domestic violence-related offenses. Taylor had relocated to Brooklyn to avoid the charges, authorities said.
Following the second murder, law enforcement launched a manhunt that stretched across multiple states. Taylor was captured on June 2, 2023, at a bar in Philadelphia by U.S. Marshals. He was extradited to New York shortly after.
Taylor still faces a separate indictment in Brooklyn for Gregg’s murder, which could carry additional charges due to her reported pregnancy and the trauma suffered by her twin daughters.
Both murders left behind heartbroken families and children forever impacted by violence.
Gregg’s twin daughters, who found their mother’s body, continue to receive trauma support. Meanwhile, Folkes-Taylor’s three children adjust to life without their mother, leaning on each other and extended family members.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, confidential help is available 24/7. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
