Obituary

Ja’Quarius Decarlos Taylor
March 16, 2002 - January 12, 2020

WPSO Continues Investigating Ja'Quarius Taylor's Murder

The investigative division of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the January 12, 2020 shooting death of Ja’Quarius Taylor of Varnado. With assistance from other local, state and federal agencies, detectives are tracing all leads and were able to make a significant evidence discovery on January 16 when the dive team from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office searched the bottom of the lake near where the body was discovered. The team was able to recover a key piece of evidence which is now being processed by a federal law enforcement crime lab.

“We have reached out to our law enforcement partners on the local, state and federal levels,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “Our intent is to leave no stone unturned as all agencies work together to solve this senseless murder. We want justice for Ja’Quarius and his family and are working diligently to discover the identity of the coward who took this amazing young man from our community. Please be patient with us as we take the necessary investigative steps to ensure evidence is properly collected and processed so that the murderer, whoever he or she might be, can be successfully prosecuted. Meanwhile, I ask everyone to keep this family, our community and our investigative team in your prayers.”

$5000 Reward Offered in Ja’Quarius Taylor's Murder

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal announced that he has partnered with Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers to offer a reward for information which leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons who murdered Ja’Quarius Taylor, a resident of Varnado, on January 12, 2020. CrimestoppersGNO is offering a reward of $2,500. The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is also offering a reward of $2,500, bringing the total reward sum to $5,000.

Tipsters must contact Crimestoppers directly to be eligible for the cash reward and do not have to provide their name or be a witness. Any person who has information is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously at (504) 822-1111, or go online at www.crimestoppersgno.org to post a tip. Another option is to go through the Crimestoppers GNO “SAY IT HERE” smart phone free app.

In announcing the reward, Sheriff Seal said, “By partnering with CrimestoppersGNO, we are able to offer a significant incentive for someone to come forward with valid information we can use to solve this tragic murder. We desperately want to bring closure to this family by identifying and arresting the murderer. If you know anything at all, please contact Crimestoppers and help us solve this crime and provide justice for Ja’Quarius.”

Grand Jury Indicts Jo' Andre Dawson of Franklinton for Murder of Ja’Quarius Taylor

District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that a Washington Parish jury indicted Jo’Andre

Dawson, age 21 and of Franklinton, Tuesday (July 21, 2020) of second degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Dawson is accused of fatally shooting Ja’Quarius Taylor, 17, several times in the head near a large pond in the Angie area on January 12, 2020. Dawson also is accused of tampering with several items of evidence, following the shooting.

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective Corbet Hunt was the lead investigator. Assistant District Attorney David Weilbaecher presented the case to the grand jury. The defendant is currently being held at the Washington Parish jail on an $800,000 bond.

For previous related stories click on the following links:

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/01/wpso-investigating-apparent-homicide-in.html

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/01/wpso-continues-investigating-jaquarius.html

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/01/washington-parish-sheriff-randy-seal.html

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/03/sheriff-randy-seal-on-arrest-of-joandre.html

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/03/sheriff-seal-releases-details-in.html

http://www.mthermonwebtv.com/2020/01/obituary_44.html

Obituary

Arletha Spikes Bonner

September 19, 1954 - March 13, 2025