Accused killer James Holloman, Whose DNA Has Been Linked to a 1988 Boston Murder after He Allegedly Spat on a Sidewalk

DNA on the Sidewalk: How a Simple Act Cracked a 35-Year-Old Murder Mystery

True Crime Lounge
Memento Mori Desk

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In a stunning development that has captivated the city of Boston, 65-year-old James Holloman has been charged with the 1988 murder of Karen Taylor, a case that had remained unsolved for over three decades. The breakthrough came through an unexpected source: DNA collected from Holloman’s saliva after he allegedly spat on a sidewalk outside his Dorchester home.

The Crime That Shook Roxbury

On May 27, 1988, Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood was rocked by a gruesome discovery. Karen Taylor, a 25-year-old mother, was found dead in her apartment, having been stabbed 15 times in the head, neck, and chest. The circumstances surrounding the discovery were particularly heart-wrenching. Taylor’s mother, unable to reach her daughter by phone, had spoken to her 3-year-old granddaughter, who innocently stated that her mother was “sleeping” and couldn’t be woken up.

Forced to enter the apartment through a window, Taylor’s mother stumbled upon a horrific scene: her daughter lying face-down in a pool of blood. The brutal nature of the crime sent…

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