Unsolved Baseball Bat Murder

Newspaper headlines about the murder of James Taylor
Newspaper headlines about the murder of James Taylor

James Douglas Taylor, a 41-year-old house painter, was killed in his home on February 11, 1976. He was killed by a baseball bat.

Taylor was found at 147 Elmhurst Avenue [based on the map provided by Toronto Police] after police responded to a 911 call. A pick-up truck was seen at his house just before the murder. The murder has never been solved, and few details are available.

Photo of murder victim James Taylor
Photo of murder victim James Taylor
Police sketch of suspect in James Taylor's murder
Police sketch of suspect in James Taylor’s murder

However, Taylor’s death was one of 13 murders of gay men in a 3 ½ year period, with more than half being unsolved. These included Neil Wilkinson, Harold Walkley,  Bernard GuayBrian Latocki and James Stewart Kennedy.

Rev. Brent Hawkes said gay men are reluctant to work with the police because of the negative stigma of homosexuality [at the time], and the increase in violence was making gay men “very cautious.”


Murder Village Map

 

 

Vital Statistics

Name: James Douglas Taylor
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Date of Death: February 11, 1976
Manner of Death: Blunt force trauma
Location: 147 Elmhurst Avenue
Suspect Name: none

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