Janae Taylor Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder, Robbery

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Janae Yvette Taylor, 26, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of First-Degree Murder and three counts of Robbery. Taylor now faces a mandatory Life sentence in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Linda F. McCallum the week Oct. 8, 2018.

In late January 2015, Taylor conspired with a group of armed co-defendants to rob Winston Thompson at his apartment near the Arlington Expressway. When they arrived at the apartment, Taylor made contact with Thompson, who was with two other individuals. As Taylor spoke to Thompson, the armed codefendants ambushed the victims with their weapons drawn. One of the armed co-defendants stole the property of Thompson’s acquaintances, while the other armed codefendant struck Thompson in the head. After Thompson fell to the ground, Taylor stood over him and demanded drugs, then went through his pockets. Taylor and the group then forced Thompson up the stairwell at gunpoint in hopes of getting into his apartment. When Thompson resisted, he was shot five times and killed steps from his front door. Taylor was struck in the hand by a bullet fired by a codefendant, and DNA evidence from blood confirmed her presence at the scene.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys M. Korey Milo and Katelyn Johnston.