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Sheriff: Stayton man sentenced for 2017 killing of 70-year-old Marion County man


Samuel Greenwell Taylor (Marion County Jail photo)
Samuel Greenwell Taylor (Marion County Jail photo)
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SALEM, Ore. -- 26-year-old Samuel Greenwell Taylor was sentenced this week for the killing of 70-year-old Jere Ethan Moody in October of 2017, Marion County Sheriff's Office reports.

The defendant previously pled guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree on January 17, 2019, resulting in a 132-month sentence at the Department of Corrections pursuant to a stipulated upward departure.

Manslaughter in the First Degree is a Ballot Measure 11 offense with a mandatory minimum of 120 months in the Department of Corrections, without eligibility for programming or a reduction of the sentence, the sheriff's office said.

On October 23, 2017, the Marion County deputies responded to Moody’s home off of Highway 22 in Stayton for a reported stabbing of Moody.

Deputies arrived found defendant standing over the victim with a knife in his hands, the report said.

"The defendant appeared to be in a catatonic state and immediately resisted multiple deputies during his arrest," the sheriff's office said. "Four deputies were required to get the defendant into custody after a lengthy struggle that required repeated deployments of a taser, multiple focused blows to the head and face, and the physical force of K9 Officer Rolo."

Based on defendant’s demeanor, greater than average strength in resisting, and other physical abnormalities, deputies believed the defendant may have been experiencing an episode of excited delirium during their contact with him, potentially limiting his ability to form intent during the attack of Moody, police said.

During a subsequent interview, the defendant admitted to using marijuana and “crack,” which was later confirmed in a subsequent analysis of his blood.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death was a stab wound to the neck.

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