DNA Solves 2012 Murder, Suspect in Custody

Story Created: Apr 29, 2014 at 5:02 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 29, 2014 at 11:26 PM CDT

Craig Taylor, 21, was arrested around 2:30 p.m.on Tuesday on the 2100 block of N. Highland Avenue by the U.S. Marshals Task Force and transported to the Madison County Jail.

The task force is compromised of deputy U.S. Marshals and investigators from the Jackson Police Department's Gang Unit and Metro Narcotics Unit.

Taylor is scheduled to be formally arraigned via video link at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Jackson City Court on charges of first-degree murder of Staten in perpetration of attempted aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery of Staten's girlfriend.

Around 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2012, Staten's girlfriend had just arrived at the home she shared with Staten at 173 Lealand Lane. While the woman was outside, a masked man came from the side of her duplex and approached her with a gun. The man then ordered the woman to go inside her home.

The woman began to scream causing Staten to come to from inside the home with a gun. Staten and the robber exchanged gunfire, and Staten was struck. He was transported to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he died from a gunshot wound.

Officers canvassed the area in which the robber had run and found a camouflage mask. Staten's girlfriend identified the mask as the one the robber had worn.

Investigators sent the mask to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for DNA analysis. The crime lab developed a DNA profile from the mask.

During the course of the investigation, Craig Taylor was developed as a suspect. In January, investigators obtained a sample of Taylor's DNA and submitted it to the crime lab for comparison.

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DNA Solves 2012 Murder, Suspect in Custody