Accused of murdering 61 year-old fiancée
Staff
Report
A local man was found dead at his Mission Dam home on Feb. 18 and his fiancée is now accused of murder.
Early Sunday evening, Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan said information was received from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Florida that a person might be deceased at a residence on Mission Dam Road in Hayesville.
Clay County Sheriff’s Officers arrived at the residence and found the owner of the home, Todd Phillip Taylor, 61, lying on the living room floor deceased from a single gunshot wound, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
During this time Taylor’s fiancée, Cheryl Ann Nicklow, 66, was hospitalized near Naples, Fla. after an apparent overdose attempt, Buchanan said.
Nicklow had been living with Taylor at his Mission Dam Road home and provided information that she had killed Taylor and afterwards drove to Florida.
Nicklow was charged with Taylor’s murder in Clay County.
Buchanan declined to comment on the type of weapon that may have been used, pending autopsy results.
“Clay County investigators and the assigned SBI agent are currently in Collier County, Fla. confirming the details of the events of this tragic event,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said the active investigation is being conducted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from agents from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigations and the District Attorney’s Office.
Buchanan confirmed that Taylor has relatives living here.
Funeral services had not been available as of press time.