Bloomingdale Man Gets 50 Years For Killing Nephew

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced that a Bloomingdale man accused of killing his nephew in 2020 has been sentenced to fifty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 54-year old Dominick Taylor formerly of 223 Freeport Drive in Bloomingdale, appeared in court yesterday morning where Judge Brian Telander handed down the sentence.

In 2020, Taylor was living with his wife and forty-three-year-old physically and mentally handicapped nephew, Damian B. Scott. Taylor was Scott’s primary caregiver. On April 26, 2020,Taylor’s wife discovered Damian’s lifeless body in his bedroom of the home they all shared. She immediately called the Bloomingdale Police Department who initiated an investigation. It is alleged that in the early morning hours that day, Taylor, who was Damian’s full-time caretaker for more than a decade, strangled Damian to death in his bedroom. It is further alleged that after killing Damian, who was blind and unable to walk, Taylor, without permission, withdrew cash from his wife’s bank account, turned off his cell phone and purchased a one-way Amtrak train ticket from Chicago to East Lansing, Michigan without notifying his wife or family. Damian was brought to Glen Oaks Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3:17 p.m. Following a postmortem examination performed by the DuPage County Coroner’s Office, a deep tissue hemorrhage around the victim’s hyoid bone was identified, which is consistent with manual strangulation. The exam also identified a healed fracture around the thyroid cartilage determined to be evidence of a prior strangulation. On April 28, 2020, Taylor was taken into custody on a local warrant in Michigan. He refused extradition from Michigan and a Governor’s Warrant was approved. Taylor was brought to DuPage County and appeared in Bond Court on June 13, 2020, where Judge Robert Miller set bond in the amount of $2 million with 10% to apply in accordance with a previously issued arrest warrant. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time. On February 27, 2024, Taylor entered a plea of guilty to one count of First Degree Murder.

“Domestic violence comes in many forms,” Berlin said. “What I find particularly disturbing in this case however, is the fact that as Damian’s caretaker, Mr. Taylor was responsible for the safety and wellbeing of Damian. His mission was to protect Damian’s life, not take it, as alleged in this case. I would like to thank DuPage County Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen and his office for their outstanding efforts in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Lee Roupas, Adam Frahm, and Jaclyn McAndrew  for their efforts in preparing a strong case against  Mr. Taylor.”

DuPage County Coroner, Richard Jorgensen M.D. acknowledged the extraordinary work by Deputy Coroner Michael Hutchens and staff in the investigation of the death of Damian Scott. “In the course of a postmortem examination, Chief Forensic Pathologist Hilary McElligott M.D. used her extensive training and experience to identify signs of strangulation and alerted officials of her finding that this case was a homicide,” Jorgensen said. “Her work was instrumental in the subsequent arrest of Dominick Taylor. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office is fortunate to have such diligent and experienced professionals who serve the citizens of this county.”

Taylor will be required to serve 100% of his sentence.