WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CREATE "TAYLOROLOGY?"

I had accumulated a great deal of information about the Taylor case, and I wanted to share that information with as many people as possible.

BEFORE I ASK ABOUT HIS MURDER, WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR WAS A RESPECTED DIRECTOR WHEN HE WAS KILLED?

At the time of his death, Taylor was indeed a respected director in Hollywood, one of the top directors on the Paramount lot.

THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HIM ALIVE WAS ACTRESS MABEL NORMAND?

Mabel Normand visited Taylor and departed only minutes before he was shot and killed.  It is assumed that she was the last person to see him alive, except for the killer.

TAYLOR WAS KILLED BY A SINGLE BULLET?

Taylor was killed by a single shot, which entered his left side and punctured his lung.

WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW A MAN LEAVING HIS HOME AND THE TIME OF THE MURDER?

Within a minute or two after hearing a shot, a neighbor saw a man leave Taylor's home.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NOTHING WAS STOLEN IN HIS HOME?

It is generally assumed that nothing was stolen from Taylor's home.  But there was a report that he carried a large roll of bills, which was never found.

AFTER THE MURDER, AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATED TAYLOR'S FORMER EMPLOYEE, EDWARD SANDS?

Taylor's former servant, Edward Sands, was considered a main suspect in the murder.  He had stolen from Taylor and had continued to harass him in the months before Taylor was killed.

COPS ALSO BRIEFLY LOOKED OUT HIS NEW VALET, HENRY PEAVEY?

I have seen no evidence that the authorities ever suspected Taylor's current servant, Henry Peavey, of being involved.

TWO ACTRESSES WERE ALSO CONSIDERED:  MARY MILES MINTER AND MABEL NORMAND?

A wide range of theories were considered by the investigators.  The theories involving Mary Miles Minter or Mabel Normand usually focused on the idea that someone close to one of those women might have committed the murder.  But there were also theories that one of the women might have been directly involved.

DID HE HAVE ANY ENEMIES?

Charlotte Shelby, the mother of Mary Miles Minter, had once threatened to shoot him if he did not stay away from Mary.  And it was reported that when Taylor was an officer in World War I, he had court-martialed a soldier who had sworn to take revenge some day.

CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE YOUR OWN THEORY?

I don't really have a strong theory.  Edward Sands and Charlotte Shelby are certainly major suspects.  It is possible that actress Margaret Gibson, who reportedly confessed to the murder on her deathbed, may have had some connection with Taylor's death.

For further information, please visit: www.angelfire.com/az/Taylorology/

    Film director William Desmond Taylor was found dead in his Los Angeles home on February 2, 1922. But, police never found the killer, and his murder remains unsolved.

    Arizona State University’s Bruce Long created the newsletter “Taylorology” to feature newspaper and magazine articles on the case. He shared further information with Crimejunkies....