Man who strangled, burned Roxbury cheerleader in 2006 is asking for parole
A man convicted of strangling a teenager in Roxbury nearly 20 years ago — then hiding and burning parts of her body — will appear before the Massachusetts Parole Board for his hearing on Thursday.
Roderick Taylor, 54, of Georgia, was convicted in 2008 of killing Dominique Samuels, 19, in April of 2006, after the former Milton High School cheerleading captain's burnt remains were found dumped in Franklin Park. Taylor was found guilty of second-degree murder following two months of testimony.
"They could have executed you on my front lawn and it wouldn't bring my daughter back," Samuels' mother said to Taylor after his life-term sentencing in July 2008, according to reports at the time from the Telegram & Gazette .
"You did one of the worst things to any mother."
Taylor's lawyer maintained his client's innocence at the time, pointing toward cell phone records that placed Taylor away from the scene of the crime and placing blame on Samuels' cousin, Martin McCray, who was also her roommate, according to the reports.
The fatal attack unfolded in the early morning hours of April 28, 2006. Suffolk prosecutor Edmond Zabin told the courtroom that Taylor was visiting his family in town and staying at Samuels' home at the time.
Taylor become angry after Samuels denied his romantic advances earlier that evening, the Boston Herald reported. Zabin said that was Taylor's motive to strangle her in McCray's bedroom, where police also found Taylor's blood on a television.
McCray later told police that Taylor confessed to killing Samuels, that he needed a car and planned to burn her body — though McCray never went to police himself to report this information, according to the Telegram.
Samuels' body was found two days later, on April 30, 2006 in Franklin Park by a man out for an early morning walk. Her remains were burned beyond recognition, the outlet reported.
"Her body was mutilated, desecrated, burned beyond recognition," Zabin said at the time.
But Taylor's attorney argued that cell phone evidence pointed toward McCray as his cousin's killer, not Taylor. He said Taylor's cell records showed he had been on his way to Norwood when Samuels' body was doused with gasoline and set on fire, the Telegram reported.
He also argued that McCray had said he'd stayed at his girlfriend's at that same time, but McCray's cell phone records showed he had actually been calling his girlfriend throughout the night until 3 a.m. — suggesting they weren't in the same house, the Telegram reported.
Taylor was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years.
Lawyers for Taylor filed an appeal in 2013, arguing that his right to a speedy trial was violated by the 22-month period of time between his indictment and the start of the trial, the Herald reported. They also argued there were improper comments made by prosecution during closing arguments.
Taylor lost that appeal in January 2014.
The parole board hearing for Taylor is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 2. It is his first time in front of the parole board.
More on the Massachusetts Parole Board
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