Sylvester Taylor, 66, of Wendell, North Carolina, was shot multiple times and killed at his daughter’s home on April 9, 2014. He lived there with his daughter LaTonya Taylor and her children and served as a deacon in his church. Sylvester was killed in the backyard; his wife Angelia Taylor was also found shot in a bedroom and died. LaTonya was shot that night but survived and was hospitalized.

Investigators determined the shooter was LaTonya’s ex-husband, Nathan Holden, who had been harassing and threatening the family. Nathan broke into the house the night of the attack. At trial, LaTonya and her son Jeremy testified; Nathan was convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of Sylvester and Angelia Taylor and was sentenced to life without parole. The family’s experience raised questions about domestic violence, threats, and protection measures for victims.