Superintendent Robert L. Taylor, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois

Superintendent Robert L. Taylor

Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois

End of Watch Thursday, September 3, 1987

Robert L. Taylor

Superintendent Robert Taylor was assaulted, stabbed and beaten to death by four inmates in the South Cell House of the Pontiac Correctional Center.

Superintendent Taylor was stabbed with a 10-inch shank two times in the chest and four times in the back and suffered several blows to the head with a pipe.

Two inmates were sentenced to death and the other two inmates received life sentences. On January 11, 2003, the outgoing governor granted clemency to all 167 Illinois death row inmates as one of his last acts in office. Both inmates' sentences were commuted to life without parole.

Superintendent Taylor was survived by his wife, son, three daughters, mother, stepfather, four brothers and three sisters.

Bio

Age 44
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Assault
Weapon Edged weapon; Shank
Offender Death sentence commuted

Most Recent Reflection

View all 11 Reflections

My dearest brother, although it has been many years since you left us, I find myself thinking of you more often. I remember our times together as children in New Orleans. Also, our high school years together in Chicago. Your years of service in the Marines. I truly miss you but I will continue to cherish my memories of you.

Helen Bush
Sister

April 17, 2018