Bay Area Man Arrested After Mother and Brother Found Dead in Bedroom
A Bay Area man has been arrested on suspicion of double murder after the bodies of his mother and half-brother were discovered inside his home in Antioch.
On October 16, police conducted a welfare check at the residence located at 2600 Fairmont Lane and found two bodies in “advanced stages of decomposition,” according to a statement from the Antioch Police Department. While officers were present, the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Mark Monroe Taylor, allegedly attempted to leave the scene but was detained.
Investigators concluded that Taylor murdered both his mother and half-brother, leading to his arrest on two counts of murder. The bodies were found together in one of the bedrooms and are believed to have been there since mid-August. Police noted they had previously responded to the home in January following a report of a fight between the two brothers. Neighbors reported a foul smell emanating from the residence, leading them to suspect a dead animal might be inside.
As of the latest updates, the names of the victims and the causes of death have not been released.
Court records from Contra Costa County reveal that Taylor has a history of violent crime, with previous charges including attempted murder and robbery. In 1999, he was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm but was acquitted of attempted murder.
Taylor is currently being held at Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.