Left: Bryson Francka. Right: Kaidan Lamb (Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
In Missouri, two young men are now facing murder charges after a robbery turned fatal. The incident involved a 61-year-old victim who was accosted with an airsoft gun by one suspect, who reportedly boasted about it being “some gangster activity,” while the other suspect allegedly ran over the victim with a vehicle, leaving him to die, as per police reports.
The suspects, Bryson Francka, aged 23, and Kaidan Lamb, aged 18, have been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and vehicle tampering in connection with the tragic death of Lyman Taylor, which occurred last month. Additionally, Lamb faces charges for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death after allegedly driving over Taylor.
According to their arrest affidavits, Francka initiated the attack on Taylor at his Bolivar residence. Wearing a ski mask and wielding a “brown airsoft gun,” he reportedly coerced Taylor into a 2001 Dodge Caravan parked at the location.
Authorities noted that Francka was recognized by a relative of Taylor’s who was present during the incident, aiding in his identification.
The affidavits detail that “[Lamb] picked Bryson up at his residence earlier in the evening,” and that “[Lamb] stated Bryson brandished a brown airsoft gun and told him he needed to go to [Taylor’s] residence.”
After dropping Francka off, Lamb observed Francka leaving with Taylor in a minivan and decided to follow them in his own vehicle. Police stated that Lamb noticed the van frequently slowing down and speeding up, suggesting a struggle was occurring inside.
“Kaidan lost sight of the van, then drove over a hill and observed [Taylor] lying in the roadway,” the documents allege. “Kaidan admitted he ran over L.T. with his vehicle. Kaidan did not stop, render aid, or contact law enforcement. Kaidan later met up with [Francka] who bragged about having done ‘some gangster a— s—.’”
Police were called and found Taylor’s body in the road. Police observed multiple damaged mailboxes and debris from the van in the area, along with “fresh tire tracks” and a “blood trail” running north and south.
Investigators were able to track Francka and Lamb down after Taylor’s relative identified Francka, according to the affidavits. Lamb initially claimed that he struck Taylor by accident before admitting that “he had lied,” the documents say.
Police determined that Francka “used an airsoft gun to commit a forcible robbery” of Taylor, while Lamb subsequently ran over and killed Taylor “as a direct result of the events initiated by Bryson,” according to the affidavits.
Both Francka and Lamb were booked at the Polk County Jail. Francka was being held on a $500,000 bond, while Lamb’s bond was set at $250,000. They were both scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
