Taylor Behl: Friend Makes Curious Disclosure

Post Bumped to top -

Update 11:29 PM: M&A see full post.

from the media in Richmond and Washington DC.
Clothes found with the remains match those of that Taylor Behl was known to have been wearing the night she went missing. Also both of the abandoned houses on Ben Fawley’s Deviant Art site and reposted here, are confirmed to be on the property. Finally, the property belongs to the parents of a friend of Ben’s. We believe that friend is Erin Crabill, we also believe the word friend is not the best term to describe the relationship.

Update: 10:52 PM -- Multiple sources claiming Fox Richmond announcing body appeared to be clothed consistent with Taylor Behl when she went missing.

From Crime Library:

His impression of Taylor was that she was a "straight arrow, normal girl that had her act together, but she was running with a rough crowd." He also characterized her as "very trusting."

The next time and the last time — Kevin saw her was Monday, Sept. 5 around 8:45 p.m. She had been eating dinner with a former boyfriend, but later, by herself sought out Kevin to tell him something she was excited about. "I'm going to do something highly illegal," she confided. "an early birthday present." Kevin sounded a bit wary of that announcement and didn't ask her for specifics. He didn't think anything more about it until Thursday, when he first heard that Taylor had gone missing.

Full article at link above. My complete coverage here.

Update from Hyscience:

An ex-girlfriend of a man interviewed in connection with the disappearance of Taylor Marie Behl led investigators today to a Mathews County farm where police discovered the badly decomposed remains of an unidentified person, law enforcement sources told The Times-Dispatch.

Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe said it could be several days before the remains - found in a wooded area off a dirt road behind a barn on private land - are positively identified.

Sources said the ex-girlfriend recognized the location in a photograph shown to her by two detectives from Virginia Commonwealth University. This morning, the detectives drove to the location, and during a search of the property discovered a shallow grave in the woods.

"This is a difficult time for the family," said attorney George O. Peterson, who represents Behl’s mother, Janet Pelasara. He said the family may issue a statement on the discovery tomorrow.

Comments

[Eric]

I don't see many standing up for Ben any longer. A little too much coincidence (pictures of the area, past place Taylor visited (per the RPD)) I suspect Erin may have spotted this farm from pics taken from Ben's apartment. I suspect Taylor's "highly illegal" activities got out of hand (with Ben and possibly others). Body hopefully will tell the tale, or maybe some finger pointing between the guilty.

[Gypzywingz]

I am sick to my stomach, just on the Richmond news that said that the clothes identified at the scene matched the description of the clothes Taylor was wearing the night she disappeared.

[1inrichmond]

They just ran the news, and the ex-girlfriend who spotted the farm pics was NOT Erin. This girl's name was Jessica.

[Michael]

Purely speculation -

She went along with the wrong crowd that night. Became involved in something way over her head, in a moment of clarity she attempted to back out. It was too late, they knew she knew too much. Someone made a rash stupid move and hit her in the head, they were forced to murder her because she could implicate them all. They threw her in the trunk of her car and drove her to the farm where they quickly buried her. They came back and replaced the license plates on her car and dumped it on a side street. They then made a commitment among then never to tell anyone about what they did. They decided and agreed on alibis and they went their seperate ways.

[Dan]

I'm wondering if Taylor was part of a group that went out to mess with Crabill as pay back of some kind and the thing went wrong? Or maybe just a B&E and someone got shot? I mean, if it was someting illegal and it was Crabill's neighborhood that would fit. Strange stuff.

[LilLady]

No.. on the news tonight that I saw they interviewed JESSICA and she said it was not her who identified the pictures. I am guessing since Erin lived in Mathews it was her who identified them.

[york gal]

could it be the same jessica that worked (was a model) for that place that was mysteriously burned down after ben had an altercation there??? i may be wrong on the name, but i know i've seen the name jessica floating round this case

[Michael]

Dan -

Not sure they would bury her in the same area they were in. On the other hand, why bury her somewhere that you can be associated with? Stupidity?

[Belmsa]

Been following along with this investigation here and there when I can, but have never posted on this site. I did hear a "rumor" that Taylor was a Meth user (don't know how far behind I am with this) which certainly does not make it "ok" for whatever happened to her, but could have made her an easy target and partly explains her involvment with the people we've been hearing about.
Whoever they've found out in Mathews--and I can pray it's not Taylor, but then it's someone elses "baby" and I can't wish that on anyone. Geez, well, my thoughts are with everyone waiting anxiously.

[Cindi in PA]

I remember being young wild, trusting, nobody was going to hurt me. Lived on the edge of danger, without even knowing it. If someone would have said to me at 16, 17, this is illegal, I would have gone for it, with the exception of harming someone else. Don't think Taylors involvement would have knowingly been of a criminal nature. But thats' my guess.

[gypzywingz]

This was listed on wric
http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=3943459

"Sources close to the investigation tell 8news the property belongs to parents of a friend of Ben Fawley. Nearby residents could only tell us a single man has been living in the house for years, they were shocked to watch their quiet road become the center of the investigation into Taylor's disappearance.

[Cindi in PA]

thanks gypz...........

[Belsma]

I agree Cindi--being invincible and it was fun. Experimenting and most of us got through it, some don't...
Local news on...read on here about the clothing, but I'm getting chills listening to the news report it. Damn!

[JLM-Hokie]

Wow, Mr. Huff over on planethuff.com called this a few weeks ago when the story of Fawley's abduction came out... he said:

"I have to wonder, if Ben tried to weave a bit of truth into his story to keep it easy to track, whether or not Richmond authorities shouldn't be doing searches around dirt roads, or on the way to Monument."

I know the dark side has been having issues, but, go to the site and look for this entry, ""On the way to Monument..." The Abduction of Poor Old Skulz..."

[Cindi in PA]

Local news on...read on here about the clothing, but I'm getting chills listening to the news report it. Damn!

Posted by: Belsma | Oct 5, 2005 11:01:44 PM

Yes, I got through it, now have teenage daughters, but the world is a much different place than it was 25 years ago. Or were we just lucky?

[Cindi in PA]

I know the dark side has been having issues, but, go to the site and look for this entry, ""On the way to Monument..." The Abduction of Poor Old Skulz..."

Posted by: JLM-Hokie | Oct 5, 2005 11:08:08 PM

if you need to contact steve, you can email dan, he can give you the link. But I have not had a problem with the link here to his site.

[Belsma]

Cindi
Lucky--yes, and I think people are just crazier with more illegal drugs out there to take. Maybe I'm wrong, but there's not a whole lot of love, peace and happiness out there!

[absynth_minded]

Many young people do stupid things. Maybe it's peer-preasure and longing to find a place to fit in or maybe it's looking for adventure, an escape from the monotony of everyday life? With kids, it's more often than not, all of the above, as well as an attempt to prove to those around them, but more importantly themselves, that they are no longer a child and can stand on their own two feet.

There is something beautiful and innocent about childish naivety. Especially when as adults, we have the ability to look back on it and marvel at what foolish decisions we made and reflect on how those decisions shaped and molded who we are today.

There is no greater tragedy than a child being deprived of that same reflection. Children are supposed to get "do-overs."

[LilLady]

Anyone else seen these disturbing photos on one of his (BF's) websites... I almost got sick! Very Very scary.

http://www.geocities.com/skulz68/images/lj_girl_in_tub_a.gif

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Wow,
Just overloaded Yahoo!

I just tried the geocities site above!!!
I got this message:
......................
The web site you are trying to access has exceeded its allocated data transfer. Visit our help area for more information.
Access to this site will be restored within an hour. Please try again later.
http://

Need extra data transfer? Sign up for GeoCities Pro or Webmaster. Learn more.

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Here's how BF documented his visit to the "farm house," and a chilling statement...
"odd that porn star photos came from this location." (see below)

I wonder if there was any kind of premeditation here?

Long Road Home
:: Was visiting the home of someone and went for a walk to take some photos in the morning before everyone woke. ::
Date Picture Taken: May 15, 2005, 8:58:49 AM
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/20221448/

:: I was walking about in the morning and came across this path in the forest.
:: Date Picture Taken: May 15, 2005, 9:00:01 AM
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/20221257/

:: Memory of better times ::
Date Picture Taken: May 15, 2005, 9:01:58 AM
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/20335017/

:: The same shack as in "Home Sweet Home". I thought this old little place made for a good photo. Real "white trash" live in this area. The sort of place crazy porn stars come from. :-p ....gee, odd that porn star photos came from this location. :-p See Vegporn.com ::
Date Picture Taken: May 15, 2005, 9:02:17 AM
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/20335223/

[LilLady]

I guess a lot of people are checking out the site... wish I would not have seen that pic, gonna give me nightmares. Looks like something out of "The Ring"... maybe it will come up again for all of those that want to see. It is just another thing that makes you wonder about the man....

[suzyqueue]

There is no greater tragedy than a child being deprived of that same reflection. Children are supposed to get "do-overs."

Posted by: absynth_minded | Oct 5, 2005 11:48:16 PM

How beautifully said. I have a teen-aged daughter, so Taylor's story is particularly poignant for me. I remember things that I did when I was in my mid-late teens and am grateful for being safe. Regardless of what some people say, the children of today are at far greater risk. And they are generally guily of no greater crime than being children who by nature, believe themselves to be impervious to harm.

[Kat_Gram]

I think it was this site where ( and now I can't find it )there were some documents relating to the charge of trespassing that Fawley was to appear on. It was a man's name that was pressing the charges. I think it was the Monday after Labor Day that he was to appear.

Who is the " single man " who stays at the farm property ?

Just pure speculation on my part.. do you think that Taylor would be naive enough to get caught up in some sort of harassment thing against Fawley's perceived enemies ?

Fawley seemed paranoid at times on his journal.

He seems to have made some enemies and was still having on going issues about these things.

[Larry]

Possible Scenario:

BF's ex hated him enough to want to frame him for a murder. Since he's a photog who likes young ladies, and is a bit kinky to boot, he's an easy blackmail and/or frame target. Erin (or whoever) may have lured TB (with drugs, money, promise of a major photo gig, fill-in-the-blank) to a remote location and killed her. Bury body. Let events play out.

Number one suspect becomes BF, whose multiple weirdnesses play into police and media's speculations. It'd be the perfect revenge (by an ex girlfriend) against a hated ex-boyfriend, in this case BF.

Taylor may have been an easily recruitable pawn in the game, chosen because of her bad-girl impulses and possible addictions. Young, promiscuous, foolishly impulsive drug users would enjoy bragging about illegal plans, like TB apparently did.

Lesson: If you're a 17-year-old girl, don't do drugs, don't sleep with older and/or multiple men, don't hang out with pornographers.

-Larry

[sigh]

Larry-

your post sounds simplistically condescending and cold. It also sounds like you have issues concerning women. Is that the case?

Everyone (well, those who have ever lived) went through the phases that she was just beginning to experience on the journey of life. Exhilarating teen years to miserable adult hood. We've all partied, got drunk, fell in love, laughed, felt bitter, became isolated, cried, and dreamed.

Life is a series of moments. She was 17 years old. Taylor was just a girl. You gotta remember that.

[Larry]

That's why I called it a possible scenario. Guess-work. ONE theory as to what happened. Many of the other theories have been discussed here. Diversity of thought is my goal. No personal issues either, tho that has nothing to do with the theory itself, which is merely one of many. And, no, IF we presuppose that TB used drugs and slept around, I'd have to say the majority of teens don't do that. Sexual promiscuity and drug use, by males, females, teens, and even older adults leads to no good. Risky behavior is... uh...risky. My college pal Tommy got plastered and drove his car into a tree. We all cried at the funeral, but nobody called him a victim. He lived in the fast lane and died in the fast lane. This is a discussion board and I've chosen to discuss one possibility of the way this played out. Diversity of opinion is good for everyone, forcing us to consider all the lessons in any given tragic situation.
--Larry

[misty]

Larry, you would be very niave to think that most teens do not do drugs or sleep around.

[Gail]

Dan you said:
"I'm wondering if Taylor was part of a group that went out to mess with Crabill as pay back of some kind and the thing went wrong? Or maybe just a B&E and someone got shot?"

That or something in that vein would make sense maybe. What has puzzled me greatly was why anyone bothered to change the license plate on her car then park it so close to her place.

Now, what if she and Fawley, with or without an accompanying group had plans to do something "highly illegal" at Erin's place? If they used Taylor's car to go there, he or they could have met ar or near her place. Then it would be very logical that Fawley would replace her real place with one from his collection of stolen plates. That way if anyone saw them, they would be in a car not connected to Fawley and with misleading plates which would be removed as soon as they got back.

After something happened to Taylor, Fawley alone or with any possible group drove back and might have been too strung out and paniced to remember to change the plates back. I think it might have been Fawley alone, because if there were more than one, they would have gotten their own car and followed Fawley in Taylor's car to leave it somewhere farther away. They could never have planned to leave it near her home but with stolen plate still on.

Parked a mile and half away sounds like some guy alone not wanting to be seen in that car near her neighborhood but he has to park near enough to walk back to his own.

[CosmicMojo]

Wow, Mr. Huff over on planethuff.com called this a few weeks ago when the story of Fawley's abduction came out... he said:
"I have to wonder, if Ben tried to weave a bit of truth into his story to keep it easy to track, whether or not Richmond authorities shouldn't be doing searches around dirt roads, or on the way to Monument."
Posted by: JLM-Hokie | Oct 5, 2005 11:08:08 PM

Only Mathews County is NOT "on the way on Monument." It's 70 miles east of Taylor's dorm and Fawley's house, whereas Monument Avenue is about a 1/2 mile west of Taylor's dorm and Fawleys's apartment.

[Diane]

Another point to make in all of this is a while back Fawley claims Erin sent some guys after him and one left his apartment stabbed by Fawley or the roommate.Both were going to testify but were never notified and thus the case was dropped.My gut feeling still tells me Fawley is involved in this mess along with others

[AAA]

Wow, Mr. Huff over on planethuff.com called this a few weeks ago when the story of Fawley's abduction came out... he said:
"I have to wonder, if Ben tried to weave a bit of truth into his story to keep it easy to track, whether or not Richmond authorities shouldn't be doing searches around dirt roads, or on the way to Monument."
Posted by: JLM-Hokie | Oct 5, 2005 11:08:08 PM

He "called" the fact that the police should search dirt roads after BF claimed to be dumped on a dirt road?! Wow, brilliant detective work there! I'm sure Mr. Huff also gave the authorities tips on specific dirt roads to search!

[CsomicMOjo]

Yeah, it's like someone else posted yesterday: doesn't take much to figure out it'd be an isolated area. duh; if you're trying to hide something, you choose an isolated area.

The challenge comes in figuring out WHICH isolated area: there are countless rural roads in Virginia. And it was the police investigators, putting together pictures and interrogations, who figured out where to go.

[Bruce]

Larry....this is Not an attack!! One comment I do disagree with is don't fall in love with older men. These people were bad, PERIOD!. It is a tragedy & I wish time could be turned back but I pray this will be lesson learned for others.

Question? For a naive 38 y/o, could someone describe what the "highly illegal" activity would have been? I may have missed it in previous posts. Thanks & pray for family.

Bruce

[Like a lamb]

Misty, you would be more naive to think they do.

[absynth_minded]

We can play with speculations and "scenarios" till the cows come home. Hell, we could think of 10 apeice, I'm sure...

I prefer to look at this from a profiler's POV, using things that we DO know. If you look at it this way, the story often writes its self.

[absynth_minded]

I posted this on another topic thread, but I think it's pretty accurate based on what we do know.

We basically know jack about the other potential players in this story, but we do know plenty about Ben Fawley.

Fawley exhibits many of the same personality and behavioral traits that other sociopaths do. We already know that he gets off on fire and with his little collection of skulls, you have to wonder whether or not he is gathering them from live animals. We've known from the jump that he is quite fond of images of death and has multiple fetishistic interests. (bondage and little girls being two of many, which in my estimation started because of his insecurities, inadequacies, and need to feel in control. I for one can not picture this scrawny little guy interacting with women his own age.) I also have to wonder if little Benny was a late bed-wetter, which would complete the textbook behavioral triad implications.

We know from his weblogs and sites that BF has a rather high opinion of himself, fancies himself as a sophisticated thinker and philosopher, and is quick to play the victim whenever he feels misunderstood or persecuted. For the most part, he feels that he is above everyone else and they are not worth his time. In particular he becomes really upset when he finally allows himself to trust someone and that person betrays his trust (this is most likely deep seeded in his feeling of past abandonment and rejection, the same feelings many adopted people feel.)

Speaking of abandonment, the fact that he was adopted is another big ugly red flag. Not saying adopted kids are the spawns of Satan, just that this can indeed work in concert with his other noted "issues." (I want to stay away from his documented case of mental illness, because many people already have it in their heads that having a chemical imbalance makes you more likely to be a killer. Same could be said of the fact that he exhibits certain signs of obsessive compulsive disorder.)

It's only natural that an adopted kid would become an introverted adult. It's not a shocker that he would choose to find himself through various mediums of art, either, as most artists do like to keep to themselves. What I've found curious from day one is the the progression of his "art."
He started with sculpture and painting, but later moved on to photography. The first two require very little interaction or interpersonal skills and the same can be said of his photography when kept to the confines of his urban decay, landscapes, and inanimate objects.

HOWEVER, moving on to live models is a whole 'nother animal, altogether..... To me this speaks volumes for an intrapersonal evolution. You have to wonder if the fetishistic scuptures and paintings of images of death and decay were enough to quell the growing urges living inside of BF? Whether these very things were enough to satiate the fantasies he may have had?

I can't shake the feeling that Ben was about to take an even darker and more sinister turn, that's if he hadn't already.

Was Ben looking too start a "skull" collection of his very own????

The thought is chilling, but as I always say, crazier things have happened.

[RJ]

Maybe the highly illegal activity was arson. Maybe BF wanted to burn down the cabin where the pictures of Erin were taken. Didn't he take the pictures of her on Vegporn? Is that not what the dispute was about? Maybe Taylor changed her mind and that pissed Ben off. He is such a firebug that it would be his likely form of revenge and ofcourse he would have to photo it. Just some thoughts

[absynth_minded]

RJ:

Good point, but don't you think he would have gone ahead with the arson and would've just made Taylor part of his fire, if that was the case?

[RJ]

Burning buildings and people are two different things. That is a sadistic thing to do. He pretends to be dark and evil. He does not do a very good job at it either. I still think it is too early to say what happened, but now that there is a body people will probably start talking.

[absynth_minded]

I agree. They are different. HOWEVER, it's not uncommon for a level of sadism to evolve. It's much like a peeping tom becomes a rapist, who later becomes a serial killer.

Keep in mind this guy is 38... He's had quite a while to evolve.

[cosmicmojo]

Yep, some psychological criminals tend to escalate.

Arson as the "highly illegal" activity is a good speculation. I didn't think taking drugs or having kinky sex or taking pictures was bad enough to justify the label.

[absynth_minded]

Taylor was by her own admission up to "something." We can only speculate what that something was, until more information is made available. What we have is a naive young girl looking for her place in the world and searching desperately to fit in. Chances are she did get in over her head and in an attempt to find herself became lost, in something of which she had no comprehension.

While it appears that Taylor may not have been the angel her mother believed her to be, what is important to keep in mind is that whenever a crime is committed against a child, it is NEVER the childs fault. Children are impressionable and easily manipulated by adults who should know better and easy targets for the predators who lie in wait.

[RJ]

I will stand firm on my arson theroy. It is his style of revenge. Maybe this Jesse fellow had a love of fire himself. Why is it we can not get more info on this Jesse? If anyone knows a good source of info on him I would love to read up.

[absynth_minded]

Jesse was up before the grand jury, yesterday. This much is known.

I've also commented that this could very well be a Leopold Loeb like situation. Perhaps Jesse is the more dangerous of the two...

[teresa]

http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/skulz/

FOUND A PIC OF I GUESS THIS KEVIN GUY ON THIS WEBSITE.

[absynth_minded]

Kid looks like a total tool...lol

[cosmicmojo]

That is how the kids look now. In my days it was Levi's and tee shirts, in my parents' kackies (sp?) and button-downs. Believe it or not he's the height of fasion, baggy pants and all.

[trish]

omg did anyone check out the vcu album at photobucket?

[oldwisedude]

is this some goth thing gone bad?