A West Valley man was charged Friday morning with capital murder in connection with the beating death of a North Salt Lake woman last summer.
The charges indicate the slaying may have been a murder-for-hire.George Anthony Taylor, 27, is accused of killing Jill M. Allen in August, according to a complaint filed in 2nd District Court. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, the complaint states.
Taylor was arraigned before 2nd District Judge Rodney S. Page on the capital charge and one count of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, Friday afternoon.
Taylor remained in the Davis County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
Allen, 24, was found by her husband in their unit of the Pebble Creek Apartment complex, 850 N. U.S. 89, on Aug. 28, 1996. Paul Allen told police he had just returned from a boating trip when he found the body.
Taylor killed Jill Allen for personal gain, or, "pursuant to an agreement or contract" for payment or the promise of payment for the killing, according to the charges.
As an alternative reason for the capital murder charge, the complaint states the slaying was committed "in an especially heinous, atrocious, cruel or exceptionally depraved manner, demonstrated by physical torture, serious physical abuse or serious bodily injury of the victim before death."
Davis County Attorney Melvin Wilson refused to elaborate on the case.
"Because the investigation is ongoing, I do not feel it would be appropriate to comment any further at this time," he said in a prepared press release.
He did say charges were filed after staff from his office met with North Salt Lake police investigators Friday morning.
Taylor was arrested Tuesday, following a nearly nine-month investigation that broke in part by a composite sketch given to police two weeks ago, police said. The sketch was of a man who residents said was seen near Allen's apartment at the time of the slaying.