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Senitila Taylor was described by one attorney as “death waiting to happen.” Although only 22 years old, she suffered from a heart condition, lupus and debilitating strokes. She was partially paralyzed and almost unable to speak.
On January 8, 1992, in a call to her Los Angeles brother-in-law, Senitila reported that Eric James Taylor, her husband, had rammed her head into a wall. On the same day, a speech therapist who visited the couple’s home daily got the same story from the unfortunate young wife. When Senitila was admitted to the hospital a day later, bruises were noted on her neck and shoulders and a hospital security guard witnessed husband Eric standing at the side of his wife’s bed and saying, “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I did this to you.”
Following treatment with anti-coagulant medications, Senitila eventually bled to death from her head injuries. And when Eric submitted claims forms for the $250,000 in life insurance carried on his wife, he removed several unsavory references on the death certificate—words like “homicide” and “blunt force trauma.”
Strangely enough, Eric was employed by the very company he submitted the altered documents to. The former lineman for the University of Utah, all 275 pounds of him, was working as an insurance salesman for State Farm.
Senitila died in 1992. State Farm initially refused to pay the $250,000 life policy because the beneficiary (Eric) was a suspect in the death. Eric sued and won a judgment of $296,000 because charges had not been brought.
But the tide is now turning. Early in April, following a two-day preliminary hearing in Circuit Court, the judge found probable cause for Eric James Taylor to stand trial on manslaughter, insurance fraud and alteration of a death certificate, all felonies.
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