PHILADELPHIA, PA — Five local residents were arraigned on Thursday, following a prolonged investigation into their alleged involvement in a 2006 kidnapping and murder. United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero named the accused as Kevin Holloway, Mark Scott, Linton Mathis, Atiba Wicker, and Kenneth Tuck, charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, among other offenses.
It is claimed that on August 26, 2006, Shamari Taylor and his girlfriend were kidnapped by men impersonating police officers. While Taylor’s girlfriend was released, Taylor was allegedly kept captive, tortured, and subsequently killed. His remains were discovered in August 2018 in North Philadelphia.
According to the indictment, the plot was crafted to rob Taylor of his cocaine and drug money, and the suspects posed as police officers while executing the plan. It is alleged that Taylor was taken to a North Philadelphia warehouse, tortured, and eventually suffocated. His body was reportedly discarded in Fairmount Park and later moved to a vacant lot that is currently a high school parking lot.
In a troubling turn of events, two armed men allegedly ransacked Taylor’s family home the day after the abduction, shooting Taylor’s mother and sister in the head. Both women survived the ordeal.
Kenneth Tuck had been previously arrested but was subsequently acquitted in 2008 after two trials. The recent investigation has unveiled claims that Tuck was involved in the conspiracy, as were Holloway, Scott, and Mathis. It is also alleged that Atiba Wicker and another unnamed individual helped plan the crime by luring Taylor to the abduction site. Tuck’s family member allegedly bribed a witness who provided false testimony at Tuck’s state trial.
US Attorney Romero expressed her commitment to justice, regardless of how long the process may take. “Anyone who commits a heinous crime and is still walking free years later might just assume they’ve gotten away with it.” Romero said, “Well, they should think again.”
Law enforcement agencies have jointly expressed satisfaction for their persistent pursuit of justice, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. They have emphasized their unwavering commitment to working together to solve complex crimes and deliver justice to victims and their families.
If found guilty, the accused individuals could face a mandatory life sentence. The prosecution of the case is underway, led by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Ashenfelter and Jason Grenell.
An indictment is an accusation. It is important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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