Florida flooring store heir arrested in death of mom

Police in Florida have arrested multiple suspects, among them the son of a prominent businessman, in connection to the death of a young mother-of-two whose body was found in a St Petersburg alley a year ago.

On December 22, 2016, a man collecting aluminium cans came upon Taylor McAllister, 22, who was deceased behind a home in the 2100 block of 63th Avenue South.

After a yearlong investigation, detectives served a search warrant on Tuesday at the Palm Harbor residence of 52-year-old Robert Butler III and took him into custody, charging him with felony possession of marijuana, failure to report a death and felon in possession of ammunition.

Taylor McAllister, 22

Justice for Taylor: Police in Florida have arrested Robert Butler III, 52 (left), in connection to the December 2016 death of 22-year-old Taylor McAllister (right)

Dumped with the trash: A man collecting aluminium cans found McAllister's body in this alley in St Petersburg, Florida, a year ago 

Dumped with the trash: A man collecting aluminium cans found McAllister’s body in this alley in St Petersburg, Florida, a year ago 

The 22-year-old woman had twin daughters and was struggling with drug addiction 

The 22-year-old woman had twin daughters and was struggling with drug addiction 

Butler’s late father, Bob Butler, was the founder of Bob’s Carpet and Flooring, which currently boasts 15 locations in West Florida. The first store opened its doors in 1969, according to the company’s website.  

The 52-year-old suspect was released from jail after posting $15,150 bail on Wednesday.  

Suspect: Deonte Baker, 35, is accused of leaving McAllister's body in the alley after she passed away from an unspecified cause

Suspect: Deonte Baker, 35, is accused of leaving McAllister’s body in the alley after she passed away from an unspecified cause

Police also have named suspected associates of Butler’s, identified as Deonte Baker, Quran Archer, Miriam Humphrey and Kadijah Hunt.

According to police, Baker, 35, and Archer, 25, admitted to picking up a ‘barely conscious’ McAllister at Butler’s home in Palm Harbor. She died shortly after they left, so they dumped her lifeless body in the alley after Butler allegedly refused to let them bring the woman back inside.

Detectives have not disclosed McAllister’s cause of death, but her father told Tampa Bay Times that his daughter was struggling with a pill addiction. She is survived by her young twin daughters. 

Butler has an extensive criminal history, which includes arrests on drugs charges and a conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm.

‘Sugar baby’: McAllister’s father said she was living with Butler before her death, and that he was allegedly supplying her with drugs and money, like a ‘sugar daddy’

Bill McAllister told the paper his 22-year-old daughter was living with Butler before her death, and that based on accounts of people who knew her, the 52-year-old suspect was supplying her with drugs and money, and acting as her ‘sugar daddy.’  

Deonte Baker has been charged with failure to report a death and money laundering; Archer is also facing a failure to report charge, but he has not been taken into custody yet.

The two other suspects, 31-year-old Humphrey and 24-year-old Hunt, both have been charged with money laundering.

 



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