Authorities report that a 22-year-old man attacked and raped a 94-year-old woman while she sat on her front porch in broad daylight. The suspect, named Jeremiah Taylor, is facing multiple sexual assault charges, which also include allegations made against his adoptive mother.
The Baton Rouge Police responded on March 5 to a report of the assault and quickly identified Taylor after releasing his image to the public the following day. Initially, he was charged with first-degree rape, second-degree assault, and abuse of a vulnerable person. He is currently in custody at the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail without bond.
Police Chief TJ Morse emphasized that the evidence against Taylor is substantial and expressed outrage over the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly. He mentioned the difficulty of finding appropriate words to articulate the horror of the situation.
According to reports, the victim suffered fractures during the assault. Morse also expressed frustration that Taylor, who has a history of violent offenses, had been released in January after a previous charge was dismissed by the district attorney.
“This is frustrating for our department and our officers,” Morse said, questioning how such incidents can occur. Taylor previously faced charges that included simple robbery and theft as well.
Following the investigation, it was revealed that he had assaulted another victim three times shortly after his release from prison. In one instance, it happened just a day after he was let out.
WBRZ-TV mentioned that prior to the assault, a man fitting Taylor’s description was caught on camera stalking another woman. One woman, who claimed to be his adoptive mother during the pandemic, reported that he had sexually assaulted her while she slept. She shared that it took him months before he felt it was okay to touch her inappropriately. Although she filed charges, she doubts any action was taken because she was a minor at the time.
Additionally, he faced charges for raping a family member, but those were dropped as the district attorney could not confirm who the victim was. When asked by reporters if he had assaulted the 94-year-old woman, Taylor simply replied, “Damn, no.”
