Randy Taylor: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Randy Allen Taylor, 48, has been arrested as part of the frantic FBI search throughout Virginia for missing teen Alexis Murphy, 17, reports WDBJ. Taylor’s arrest was announced on August 12 in relation to Murphy’s disappearance on August 3. It’s reported that Alexis Murphy left her home in Lynchburg to go to a hair salon and has not been seen since. Her car was found on August 6 with no sign of Murphy in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Here’s what you need to know about him…

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1. He Was Questioned in 2010 About the Whereabouts of Samantha Clarke

In 2010, a woman from the town of Orange in Central Virginia, Samantha Clarke, vanished. The 19-year-old Clarke was home, babysitting her brother when she was last seen. Her brother says that she left the home to go and meet some friends at some point in the evening.

It’s understood that Clarke had just begun seeing a younger friend of Randy Taylor, reports Charlottesville’s Hook Newspaper.

Taylor admits to having seen Clarke in a bar just prior to her disappearance but had no other interaction with her. Shortly after she was confirmed as a missing person, Taylor was identified as a suspect, but was never charged for her disappearance.

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2. He Appeared in Court for an Advisement Hearing Tuesday

As friends, family and law enforcement continue to search for Murphy, deputies brought Taylor in to Nelson County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to face a judge for an advisement hearing on Tuesday. Judge Kenneth Farrar read him the felony charge he faces in connection with the disappearance of Murphy. He is charged with her abduction.

“We continue to seek information from anyone who may have seen anything of interest on the day of Alexis’ disappearance,” Special Agent in Charge of the Richmond Division of the FBI Jeff Mazanec said. “We are also looking for any information the public may have regarding suspect Randy Taylor prior to the disappearance of Alexis on Aug. 3 and anything regarding his activities or involvement that might prove helpful to this investigation.”

3. He’s Currently in Jail Without Bond

Albemarle jail confirms Randy Taylor is being held there on abduction charges from Nelson County. #alexismurphy pic.twitter.com/5eELM6yhAw

— NBC29 (@NBC29) August 12, 2013

A hand-cuffed Taylor was led out of the courtroom following the five-minute hearing and is back behind bars at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail where he is being held without bond.

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4. Randy Taylor and Alexis Murphy Were Both Spotted on the Same Surveillance Footage

The missing Nelson County High School Senior was last seen on August 3 heading out to do some back-to-school shopping.

“She was supposed to be doing some back-to-school shopping in Lynchburg, but she never made it,” Murphy’s cousin, Tiffany Murphy, told The Huffington Post.

Murphy was active on Twitter the day of her disappearance and made her last tweet at 6:40 p.m.

I actually look cute right now.

— Alexis Murphy. (@RealFolarin_) August 3, 2013

Authorities said they have surveillance video from a Lovingston gas station that shows Murphy enter the station around 7:15 p.m. that night. Taylor also was allegedly also spotted in the video footage on that same day.

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5. Tayor Was a Person of Interest Early on in the Investigation

Authorities say Taylor was a person-of-interest in the case very early on in their investigation. Their initial list of person’s of interest included between eight and 10 people.