Tishawn Folkes-Taylor & Theresa Gregg case file and memorial story

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Life, memory, and case context

This tragic case involves two women who were deeply loved by their families and dedicated to their children. Tishawn Folkes-Taylor was a 44-year-old mother of two children who had been married to Timothy Taylor for over ten years before divorcing him in 2021. She worked hard to build a safe, independent life for her family in Schenectady, New York, and sought legal protection to keep her ex-husband away. She is remembered by her children and her extended family as a loving, protective mother. Her legacy is kept alive by WARM (We All Really Matter), a domestic violence support organization that honors her memory. Theresa Gregg was a 37-year-old mother of 14-year-old twin daughters and a dedicated public servant. She served for ten years as a police officer with the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), where her colleagues remembered her as full of life and deeply committed to protecting vulnerable populations. At the time of her death, she was three months pregnant. Following her tragic passing, the department posthumously promoted her to the rank of detective to honor her decade of service.

Timeline of reported and documented events

• May 13, 2023 Murder of Theresa Gregg
  Theresa Gregg, a 37-year-old New York City Department of Homeless Services police officer who was three months pregnant, is found dead of multiple stab wounds in her Williamsburg, Brooklyn apartment by her 14-year-old twin daughters. A screwdriver is found next to her body. Timeline sources: - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/
• May 28, 2023 Murder of Tishawn Folkes-Taylor
  While fleeing from the Brooklyn murder investigation, Timothy Taylor breaks into the Schenectady, NY home of his ex-wife, 44-year-old Tishawn Folkes-Taylor, and stabs her more than 22 times. An active order of protection and three outstanding criminal contempt warrants were in place against Taylor in Schenectady City Court. Timeline sources: - https://people.com/after-allegedly-killing-wife-felt-guilty-stabbed-ex-multiple-times-11774664 - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/ - https://www.usmarshals.gov
• June 2, 2023 Arrest of Timothy Taylor
  Timothy Taylor is arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at approximately 11:20 a.m. at a bar in the 1100 block of Chestnut Street in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Timeline sources: - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/ - https://www.usmarshals.gov
• July 1, 2025 Guilty Plea in Schenectady Case
  Timothy Taylor pleads guilty in Schenectady to second-degree murder for the death of Tishawn Folkes-Taylor. Timeline sources: - https://people.com/after-allegedly-killing-wife-felt-guilty-stabbed-ex-multiple-times-11774664 - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/
• October 16, 2025 Guilty Plea in Brooklyn Case
  Timothy Taylor pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Brooklyn Supreme Court for the death of Theresa Gregg. Timeline sources: - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/
• December 2, 2025 Consecutive Sentencing
  Timothy Taylor is sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 22 years to life in prison. Justice Warin orders the sentence to run consecutively to the 22 years to life term Taylor received for the Schenectady murder, resulting in a total sentence of 44 years to life in prison. Timeline sources: - https://www.brooklynda.org/2025/12/02/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-22-years-to-life-in-prison-for-stabbing-death-of-his-pregnant-wife/

Prevention context

* **Outstanding Arrest Warrants:** At the time of the murders, Timothy Taylor had three active arrest warrants out of Schenectady City Court for criminal contempt. This clear pattern of disobeying court orders showed he was escalating, yet he remained free, representing a missed opportunity to place him in custody before his behavior turned deadly. * **Limitations of Protection Orders:** Tishawn Folkes-Taylor held an active order of protection against her ex-husband. However, paper orders cannot physically block a determined offender, emphasizing the critical need for active monitoring or quicker police intervention when protective orders are repeatedly violated. * **Interstate Fugitive Tracking:** Taylor was able to travel from Brooklyn to North Carolina and then to upstate New York while actively sought by police, showing gaps in real-time communication and geographic tracking of high-risk domestic violence offenders.