Were greed and stolen cash the reasons behind the gruesome murder of Constable Richard Taylor?

Although police would neither confirm or deny new surfacing information on the days leading up to Taylor's murder, The STAR uncovered a dramatic tale of the illicit lifestyle of a corrupt cop, that ended in a quarrel over 'blood money.'

As a car stereo pumped the lyric of reggae artiste Sizzla's Run Out Put Pon Dem into the cool night air of Point Hill, a resident remarked that this was Taylor's favourite song, citing that he would regularly frequent the corner with his friends.

Friends, that some residents claimed to have eventually killed the police officer over a cash haul from a robbery spree.

"Him (Taylor) did have him crew, whe him look out for, gi gun, bullet, len car, an protect. ... Is a robbery dem did go pon and get bout a million dollar, and him only gi di man dem musi $60,000," said a resident.

On September 8, four days after he was reported missing by family members, Taylor's body was found tied to an engine block, in a popular dump site at Worthy Park Estate, known by residents as blister hole. His throat was slashed, and he was shot in the head twice.

The alleged crew of the deceased constable, were men said to originate from Rema (Wilton Gardens) in St Andrew.

With two men said to be members of the crew in police custody, the lawmen are searching for a man named Sheldon, who they say is the main suspect in Taylor's death.

"We are looking for a man named Sheldon Bent. He is wanted by police," said acting Divisional Detective Inspector for St. Catherine North, Fitz Richards.

Police want wrong man?

But a close associate of Sheldon, lamented his innocence. "Mi deh deh when di man dem call Sheldon an tell dem wa guan (Taylor's murder) ... Di man did ben up bout it. Him did mad wit Taylor over di money ting, but a did him fren an di las ting him did want fi do a kill him," said the resident.

The 'cronies' allegedly explained to Sheldon that they had not intended to kill Taylor, but merely scare him into sharing more of the stolen money, but when they say Taylor 'dissed' them, they decided to end his life.

As ludicrous as these allegations may seem for an officer of the law, a colleague at the Point Hill Police Station concurred with the information on anonymity, and described the chilling call they received to inform them of the whereabouts of their colleague's body.

"Wi get a call saying 'yuh tiefing squaddie deh a blister hole' .... We don't know what they meant by calling him a thief, but it sounded like he had money for them, so it may be true," said the officer.

When asked about the residents claims of a robbery spree, and inadequately dispersing stolen funds, the investigating officer said that the information was new to them, and they would be looking into the allegations.

"We cannot comment on findings of the investigations, but it is in an advanced stage, and we have several leads...we have no comment on those (robbery) allegations, but it will be investigated," said Richards.

Whatever the cause of his murder, police and residents alike say that he was a police officer who favoured the company of 'badmen,' than that of his own colleagues in the force. This many say, was the ultimate cause of his demise.