Caruthersville man gets 20 years in death of child

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Daily Dunklin Democrat

Matthew Taylor

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- A southeast Missouri man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter.

KZIM Radio reports that 23-year-old Matthew Taylor of Bragg City was sentenced Tuesday, the same day he entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in the 2008 death of Lillian Fowler.

Lillian's mother, 21-year-old Joanie Fowler, told authorities the child was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident. But police later determined that Taylor had struck the child in the face with his fist. An autopsy showed Lillian died of head trauma.

Joanie Fowler goes to trial in March for endangering the welfare of a child.

Comments

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Should have got life! You don't hit children.

-- Posted by Star_gazer on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 11:33 AM

How can you take a childs life and then you only get 20yrs. He should have been put to death just like he did that little baby. 20yrs is not near enough for him. He should never be able to walk the streets again.

-- Posted by help on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 12:13 PM

Everyone should be outraged, he should be slapped to death. It's a real pitty that the justice system thinks an innocent 2 yr. old child's life isn't worth anymore than that.

-- Posted by lion84 on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 12:27 PM

If we let it happen............it will continue to happen!!!!! Kill the low life!!

But don't you worry, he will get all he needs in prison! They (the other prisoners) hate, hate baby killers and mother killers and sister killers!!

It will take care of itself and we will be rid of the "scum"! Plus a little more. It won't happen real quick, but it will happen!

He will wish he was dead by the time good ole' "Joe-Daddy" gets his "paws" on him!!!! Eye 4 an Eye!!!!!!!

Yeah, thats his ticket!!!!

The so called "mother" needs a little also, and she will get her just "due rewards" as well!

-- Posted by lburton@flintschools.org on Fri, Feb 5, 2010, at 8:21 AM

I think he should have gotten life or the death sentence for what he done to that little baby!! And the mother should get the same for allowing it to happen and then she lied for the scum bag!!!!!

-- Posted by 1countrygirl on Sun, Feb 7, 2010, at 9:47 AM

Are judges elected in Missouri? If so, find out who the judge was in this case, then find someone to run against him or her that will pledge stiffer sentencing for cases such as this. If 20 years is the max allowed by law, begin an organized campaign to get the legislature to extend the maximum to life without parole.

-- Posted by arbyrd01 on Tue, Feb 9, 2010, at 12:04 AM

This makes me glad I no longer live in Bragg City! Such acts of violence against children will not go un punished! God will have his vengence!

-- Posted by LHarderson on Sun, Feb 14, 2010, at 11:44 PM

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