In a shocking turn of events, the state of California was left astounded when Crystal Dejuanna Taylor was tragically shot to death inside her Kornblum Avenue apartment complex on September 25, 2001. Pregnant with a child at 22 weeks, it was later revealed that her ex-boyfriend, Derek Paul Smyer, had orchestrated her murder. If you’re curious to learn more about Derek’s background, motives, and current status, we’ve got all the details for you.
Who is Derek Smyer?
Derek’s encounter with Crystal took place in the late spring of 2001 at Anderson Park, where their paths crossed due to their respective jobs. What began as an unexpected conversation led to a short-lived fling. Crystal became pregnant with Derek’s child during their brief connection. However, reports unveil that while Derek urged her to have an abortion, Crystal decided to carry the baby without his support.
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When Crystal and her unborn son, Jeremiah Johnson Taylor, were brutally killed nearly five months later, Derek was one of the prime suspects. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the interrogation and willingly answering every question without legal representation, he claimed that Crystal had been unfaithful during their time together. His attempt to imply that the baby might not have been his was futile in the face of other crucial evidence.
Although the search of Derek’s home and vehicle yielded no significant findings, it was undeniable that he bore a resemblance to the suspicious male seen fleeing the scene. Even more disturbingly, it came to light that his high school girlfriend, Traci Williamson, had experienced similar heinous attacks during both of her pregnancies with Derek. In one instance, a stranger attempted to slash her throat with a knife, while in another, she was subjected to brutal kicks and punches to her stomach. Fortunately, Traci and her two children survived these terrifying incidents.
However, due to a lack of concrete evidence linking him to these crimes, Derek remained a free man until late 2011. Skyler Moore’s confession revealed that he had hired Derek to carry out the murder of Crystal. The two crossed paths by chance at Anderson Park’s basketball courts, where Derek eagerly agreed to commit the heinous act in a bid to establish a reputation for himself. Derek was subsequently arrested on November 3, 2011.
Where is Derek Smyer Now?
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It took a decade for Derek to be apprehended in connection to the homicides of his ex-girlfriend and their unborn child. However, justice was not swiftly served. His first trial in 2016 resulted in a hung jury. It was not until October 21, 2017, after weeks of detailed testimonies, that Derek was finally found guilty on multiple charges. He was indicted on one count of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of murder for financial gain and multiple murders, one count of second-degree murder, and two counts of solicitation of murder.
According to official court documents, it was determined that Derek had desired Crystal’s death to ensure that the baby would not survive, thus allowing him to evade child support payments. This despicable motive led to the special circumstances attached to his first-degree murder charges and resulted in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Presently, at the age of 42, Derek is incarcerated at the medium-maximum security California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, Kings County.
For more information, read: Skyler Moore: Where is Crystal Taylor’s Killer Now?
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