A Central Florida man was found guilty of murdering a 91-year-old.
Jurors recently delivered their verdict in the 2023 murder case of 91-year-old John Taylor. After a brief deliberation of the evidence presented and expert testimony by Florida Department of Law Enforcement analysts, jurors found 46-year-old Bryan Matthew Hamill guilty of First-Degree Murder and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family as they continue to grieve this devastating loss,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “The verdict in this case reflects the gravity of this senseless and violent act that claimed an innocent life. It also serves as a powerful reminder that such crimes will be met with justice.”
On February 15, 2023, Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies were called to a home off Starwood Lane in Clermont regarding a fall. Upon arrival, EMS personnel were treating a patient, later determined to be the victim, John Taylor, who had a large injury to the top of his head – consistent with being struck. The victim was found by a caregiver on the floor of his bedroom in a pool of blood. The victim was in critical condition and would later succumb to his injuries.
Officials learned that the elderly victim had two roommates who resided in the home with him, 36-year-old Brandi Dale and Hamill. It was also noticed that the victim’s vehicle was no longer in the driveway of the home. Investigators immediately began their search for the victim’s vehicle.
The following day deputies spotted the vehicle in the Groveland area and conducted a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Dale with Hamill in the passenger seat. Detectives conducted interviews with both Dale and Hamill to determine what had transpired.
After obtaining statements and comparing evidence collected from the scene, investigators were able to determine Hamill had attacked the victim. Additional forensic evidence also revealed Hamill’s DNA on the baseball bat used to hit the victim.
This Central Florida case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Thomas Wieczorek. The State Attorney’s office also thanked LCSO Det. C. Watkins, with assistance from Dets. Z. Williams, K. Morrison, Deputies L. Montalvo and J. McKinley, CSIs G. Crews, and I. Bustamante, along with FDLE Analysts S. Johnson and A. Stephens for their diligent work in this case that helped secure this conviction.
