Prosecutors: Man killed girlfriend, Vanessa Taylor, then wrote about it on Facebook

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 17:18:23 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A West Garfield Park man strangled his live-in girlfriend Vanessa V. Taylor, then confessed to killing her on Facebook, Cook County prosecutors said Thursday.

James E. Thomas | Chicago Police

James E. Thomas went into his victim's Facebook account and wrote, "My girlfriend was part of the mob. She came to kill me, so I killed her," Assistant State's Attorney Akash Vyas said.

The 49-year-old Taylor was found by officers Tuesday lying on a bedroom floor with an electrical cord wrapped around her neck.

Minutes earlier, her 28-year-old son had asked police to conduct a well-being check because his older brother had been getting unusual Facebook notifications from their mother's account, Vyas said.

Relatives tried to call Taylor but were not getting any response, Vyas said.

When police came to the apartment in the 4300 block of West Flournoy they met the son outside and noticed Thomas hanging out of a window, Vyas said.

They asked Thomas where Taylor was. He told them she was not home, Vyas said. Thomas then allegedly went on to say he was dead already and that the officers should kill him. Thomas also told the officers he had taken poison and they would have to break into the apartment and kill him, Vyas said.

Officers were able to get into the building from a back door entryway and confronted Thomas, who was armed with a knife, Vyas said.

Thomas refused to drop the knife and told police they would have to kill him, Vyas said. When Thomas allegedly turned toward one of the officers, the officer Tased him.

Thomas fell to the ground and dropped the knife, Vyas said.

The officers then found Taylor's body.

Thomas was taken to an area hospital where he confessed to the treating physician that he killed his girlfriend, Vyas said.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Thomas held without bond Thursday for murder and aggravated assault to a police officer.

Just two days before Taylor was found dead, she and her 28-year-old son had called police because Thomas had been burning grease in the kitchen for no reason, Vyas said.

When police arrived, Thomas barricaded himself and told police they'd have to burn him out. From a window, officers saw Thomas make Molotov cocktails as he poured grease into an empty bottle and then stuffed the cloth into the bottles, Vyas said. The officers also saw him pace back and forth with a Samurai sword and knife.

The officers got keys from Taylor to get inside the apartment. Once inside, Thomas came at the officers with the knives but they were able to subdue him, Vyas said.

The building was evacuated because Thomas, 49, had cut a gas line, Vyas said. He was admitted to Stroger Hospital for a mental health evaluation on Sunday and was released on Monday, Vyas said.

James Thomas arrested for murder of Vanessa Taylor in West Garfield Park

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:31:40 -0500

A man has been charged with murder for strangling Vanessa V. Taylor in her West Garfield Park home earlier this week, a murder discovered by police after her roommate posted on social media that he had killed her.

James E. Thomas, 49, was charged with one county of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault to a peace officer with a weapon, according to Chicago Police.

About 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers performing a well-being check in the third-floor apartment in the 4300 block of West Flournoy found the 49-year-old Taylor unresponsive, police said. A source said she had been strangled with a computer cord.

James E. Thomas | Chicago Police

Responding officers also found Thomas in the apartment, armed with a knife, police said.

Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Wednesday found she died of asphyxiation and ligature strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

A police source said the woman’s roommate had posted on social media that he had killed her, and police said the killing may be domestic in nature.

Thomas, also of the 4300 block of West Flournoy, is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday, police said.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

James E. Thomas | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Man killed girlfriend, Vanessa Taylor, then wrote about it on Facebook

James Thomas arrested for murder of Vanessa Taylor in West Garfield Park