Bay Area Man Accused of Killing Mother and Brother, Leaving Bodies in Bedroom
A Bay Area man has been arrested on suspicion of double murder after police discovered the bodies of his mother and half-brother inside his home in Antioch.
On October 16, police visited the residence at 2600 Fairmont Lane for a welfare check, where they found two bodies in an “advanced stage of decomposition,” according to a statement from Antioch police. While officers were at the scene, the suspect, 46-year-old Mark Monroe Taylor, allegedly tried to flee but was detained.
“Investigators determined that the male murdered his mother and half-brother, and he was placed under arrest for two counts of murder,” police said.
The bodies were discovered together in one of the home’s bedrooms, and authorities believe they may have been there since mid-August. Police had previously been called to the same home in January following a reported altercation between the brothers. Neighbors told KTVU that the smell coming from the house was so strong they suspected a dead animal was inside.
As of Monday, the names of the victims and their causes of death had not been released.
According to Contra Costa County court records, Taylor has a history of violent crime, including charges of attempted murder and robbery. In 1999, he was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm but was acquitted of attempted murder. Taylor is currently being held at the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
