Shivangi Sinha
In September 2017, when former police officer Taylor Wright was reported missing in Pensacola, Florida, investigators had few clues to go on. It was unclear whether she had disappeared voluntarily or been the victim of foul play. The case began to take shape only after detectives spoke with Ashley McArthur, Taylor’s close friend and the last known person to see her alive. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Necklace’ uses interviews with those involved in the investigation and people close to Taylor to reconstruct the timeline and present the evidence that ultimately led to Ashley’s conviction.
Ashley McArthur Claimed She Went Horseback Riding With Taylor Wright
Ashley Britt McArthur had previously worked as a crime scene investigator. Her husband, Zach McArthur, was also involved in law enforcement, and the couple built a life together in Pensacola, Florida, where they raised their daughter. Later, Ashley transitioned into running her own business alongside her parents. They operated a company that leased jukeboxes and pool tables to local bars, sharing the revenue with the bar owners. Their venture appeared to be thriving. However, everything changed on September 8, 2017, when her close friend Taylor Wright went missing. The investigation soon began focusing on Ashley as a person of interest.
The police first contacted Ashley because she was the last known person to have seen Taylor. On the morning of September 8, 2017, the latter had told her girlfriend, Casandra Waller, that she was going to run errands with Ashley but never returned. Taylor had recently moved in with Casandra and was starting a new chapter after her divorce. Ashley told investigators that her friend appeared upset and wanted a beer. She claimed they went horseback riding at her family’s farm in Milton, Florida, before returning home. According to Ashley, Taylor left around 4:30 pm after calling a cab and telling her that she wanted to drink alone. Later that night, Ashley said she received a text from her saying she was fine but needed space due to stress.
Ashley Became a Suspect After Police Found Inconsistencies in Her Accounts
Still, there were several inconsistencies that raised red flags for investigators. No cab had been booked from Ashley McArthur’s home on the day Taylor Wright disappeared, which seemed suspicious. When police checked the former’s phone records, they discovered that she and Taylor hadn’t gone to Milton as she claimed but had instead traveled in the opposite direction to Cantonment, Florida, where Ashley’s aunt and uncle happened to own a farm. They also found that Taylor’s phone had pinged near Ashley’s home hours after she was reported missing. A search warrant was executed at the farm, and Ashley was questioned again, but couldn’t explain the discrepancies. During the search, authorities found human remains buried in a mixture of concrete and potting soil, later confirmed to be Taylor.
Ashley was arrested, but at first, there was no direct evidence tying her to Taylor’s murder. However, a background check revealed troubling details about her past. Investigators discovered that in her jukebox and pool table rental business, she had been skimming profits and shortchanging bar owners. She was also suspected of committing arson at her business for insurance fraud. Ashley was charged with fraud, racketeering, and arson. Meanwhile, police learned that Taylor had placed $34,000 (part of a $100,000 she had withdrawn during a legal dispute with her ex-husband) into a joint account with Ashley. Soon after, the latter withdrew large sums and spent lavishly on Brandon Beatty, her ex-boyfriend and secret lover. Investigators alleged that Ashley murdered Taylor to avoid returning the money when she began asking for it back.
Ashley McArthur is Being Held Behind Bars Today
Ashley McArthur was initially brought to trial on charges related to her business operations, including fraud, racketeering, and arson. While she was found guilty of fraud and racketeering, she was acquitted of the arson charge due to a lack of evidence directly linking her to it. In August 2019, her criminal trial for Taylor Wright’s murder began. Her defense argued that Ashley had no financial motive, noting her wealthy background and the fact that she could have obtained money through other means. They also emphasized the absence of physical evidence tying her directly to the murder. However, the prosecution called three witnesses who testified that Ashley had spoken about wanting to kill Taylor by lacing her beer with cocaine.
They argued that when this plan failed, since Taylor reportedly noticed something off about her drink, Ashley resorted to shooting her instead. Ultimately, the jury found Ashley guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. She was sentenced to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years. Now 47 years old, she is serving her sentence at the Lowell Correctional Institution Annex in Ocala, Florida.
Read More: Where is Casandra Waller Now?
