GREENSBURG, Ind. An Indiana man is accused of shooting and killing his father.
Wyatt Taylor, 28, is currently being held in the Decatur County Jail on one count of murder.
According to court documents, 911 received a phone call early Tuesday morning urging deputies to check on the health and status of Joshua Taylor. Joshua’s brother told 911 he had been unable to reach his sibling and was concerned by a recent call made to the home.
In the call, Joshua’s son, Wyatt Taylor, reportedly answered and smoke alarms were heard going off in the background. Wyatt told his uncle that Joshua was sleeping and couldn’t come to the phone. But a concerning call earlier from Wyatt to his uncle reportedly ended with Wyatt saying, “should I do it or should I go to bed?”
Deputies drove out to Joshua Taylor’s home on County Road 60 West in Greensburg in search of answers. They were greeted by Wyatt standing in the driveway, who told the deputies that everything was fine and the smoke alarms going off was due to him “burning pizza.”
The officers initially left only to return shortly afterward at the insistence of Joshua Taylor’s brother.
Wyatt was still standing outside when deputies returned, according to court documents. Deputies asked again to see Joshua, and Wyatt told them he was sleeping.
Insisting on seeing and speaking with the man, Wyatt led deputies into a bedroom in the house where he pointed at his father and said, “He’s right there.”
Deputies approaching Joshua immediately noticed he was dead— spotting gunshot wounds in his head and neck.
Court documents reveal that deputies found a firearm on the ground with Wyatt Taylor’s wallet and hat resting nearby. A box of ammo was also set nearby.
When investigators later spoke to Wyatt, he claimed to be afraid of his father’s recent behavior and described his father as “bipolar” and “belligerent.”
He cited being “extremely in fear for his life.”
No evidence of burnt pizza was found in the home, with investigators believing the smoke alarms were set off instead by gunshots.
Joshua Taylor’s brother described Wyatt as having a “history of depression,” according to the court documents.
If convicted of murder, Wyatt could face up to 65 years in prison.
