Taylor Behl: Lawyer Mum On Guns

Did you ever want to just grab an attorney by the face and squeeeze? I bet a few reporters did, today.

NBC 12 When Richmond Police searched the amateur photographer’s apartment last month they didn’t find any guns, just a 32-caliber cartridge. Sources say it was around the same time two of Fawley’s guns were dropped off at the police department by a lawyer, leading to a charge against Fawley of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to sources, Fawley turned the guns over to his lawyer, Chris Collins. Collins has said he knew his client was a convicted felon and therefore would gave known Fawley shouldn’t have them. But, sources say Collins didn’t turn the guns over to police. Instead they say he handed them to another Richmond lawyer, David Baugh.

Those sources also tell NBC12 that Baugh dropped off the guns to police without an explanation. NBC12 does not know whether Baugh was aware of where the guns came from or why Collins had them.

NBC12 stopped by Chris Collins’ office for an explanation, but we’re told he is out of town and can’t be reached. So, NBC12 asked Baugh if he received any guns from Collins. Baugh says, “I will follow the ethical rules and the law and not answer that. I’m sorry.”

NBC12 asked Baugh: “Can you say whether you turned over any guns to the police department in the last month?” Baugh replied: “I couldn’t make that statement either.”

Richmond Police won’t comment on the series of events that lead to the gun charge against Fawley and say they still don’t know how Virginia Commonwealth University freshman Taylor Behl died.

Comments

[absynth_minded]

My confidence in our legal system is really taking a hit with the developments in the case. Everyday the truth seems less and less clear.

[absynth_minded]

All we need now is a forensics cross-contamination or mix-up like we had back in the days....

[Gypzywingz]

I didn't know if this post got posted but here is the article that the Gloucester/Mathews gazette posted today. It does give some good information.

http://gazettejournal.net/article_3174.shtml

[justice4oil]

How are they going to determine a cause of death if Taylor's remains were returned for burial.

[justice4oil]

ABC 8 local news is supposed to announce that a witness identified Fawley in Matthews' or the area, around the time Taylor disappeared. They were supposed to say it at 6pm, but they are putting it off till 11pm.

[absynth_minded]

If he really was jumped and framed, he could be out there for that reson....

[justice4oil]

I think the police are staying quiet and releasing only what they determine to be necessary to ease public fear. I am sure they are trying to build a solid case against Ben. It is common for the police not to divulge information during an ongoing investigation. Some of the confusion stems from the constant leaks of info to the media, that are only corroborated by the police on their terms.

[Diane]

Justic Fawley and no one else?

[justice4oil]

Cheif Monroe might have killed Taylor, and framed Ben. Chief Monroe said in an interview that the Behl case reminded him of his days in D.C. with Chandra Levy, maybe he did it. It is unlikely that anyone other than Ben, or Ben and helpers killed her.

[justice4oil]

Juan Conde said on the radio that there was going to be a report about someone id-ing Fawley in the Matthews area around the time of Taylor's disappearance, and that there would be more information at 6, then at 6 they said they would have an update at 11p. That is all I know.

[me]

Anyone read that they ME has ruled out strangulation, blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound? Other than an OD what else is there?

[Diane]

Justice, I think there is more involved than just Ben.Might be wrong one never knows!

[me]

Other than circumstanial, I have yet to see HARD evidence Ben commited this heinous crime. I do admit there are quite a number of coincidences but I guess as a relative, I am still holding out hope that he is uninvolved in this and being framed.

[Cindi in PA]

The other attorney could be acting as counsel for Collins. In that case, he can claim attorney/client confidentiality. I am guessing however, Collins did not tell him where they came from, which would have been the smartest thing to do. I saw a case once, a guy was accused of stealing office equipment from a former employer. The attorney took the equipment from his client, handed them over to another attorney who returned them. The accused was protected by confidentiality laws, and the attorney was protected by the same laws due to him taking the second attorney as his counsel.

[Scott]

Me--

I empathize with you as a relative but I would like your thoughts on this. How does Taylor end up where she did if Ben is not the one to put her there? I mean you have a limited # of people who know her and know where this place is. And the only other person it could really be, Erin, has no reason to act violently toward Taylor, and no history of violent actions like Ben. What do you think about that?

[Cindi in PA]

I guess as a relative, I am still holding out hope that he is uninvolved in this and being framed.

Posted by: me | Oct 13, 2005 8:35:07 PM

That is understandable me. Prayers are with you as well.

[Diane]

Hope this person is credible and not looking to get their name in the spotlight.

[me]

Diane...Who are you speaking of?

[Diane]

me, Do you really think there is a possibilty that he is being framed?I keep going back and fourth in this case.I do believe that is is not just one person involved.

[Diane]

The person who says they can identify Ben in mathews at the time Taylor went missing. Suppose to be on the news at eleven.

[Diane]

read what justice posted

[me]

I think anything is possible. DO you remember the Gaineville student murders? Authorities were totally convinved they had the killer and it wound up it was someone else.

Physically, I do not think Ben is able to transport a body on his own. He is 135 pounds (unless he did have help). Now the ME is stating that it was not caused by blunt force trauma, strangulation or a gun shot wound. I think the only thing left is a drug OD.

[Kathleen]

Anyone read that they ME has ruled out strangulation, blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound? Other than an OD what else is there?

Posted by: me | Oct 13, 2005 8:30:43 PM

A drowning from a Labor Day midnight swim at the beach?

In one of BF's alter-ego interest sections on LJ, he lists that he loves the beach and also midnight swims. A "skinny-dipping" would also be considered "highly illegal", if in fact, TB did say that phrase. It would also explain the need for wearing a "hoodie" that night.

[Scott]

me--

what about suffocation by a plastic bag over the head, as AM posted earlier.

[Diane]

I thought they could not be for sure on the strangulation part. yes I was thinking along the lines of od.If that happened then more people are involved than we know.

[1inrichmond]

I said this before, but this seems more appropriate here.

You know, if I were on a jury, I would not be 100% sure that BF is the murderer. Yes, he is WEIRD!!! However, there are too many other strange things connected to this case...like why isn't HIS scent in the car? Whose car is the Nissan? How do the 3 sets of license plates fit (other than he is a license plate collector/stealer)?

What made Erin suspect that the body was in Mathews? That was a strange comment she made about the cell phone (IMHO). His ranting and raving about her sounds no different than the stuff she said about him to me. He did say on one of the journals that someone broke in awhile back but left with a knife cut.

Ah well, I suppose I am about the only person is not sure the murderer is him--I keep going back and forth.

[Scott]

Erin did not "suspect the body was in Mathews". The police asked her if she could help them identify the locations of some of the photos on BF's web site and she told them the location of these particular photos. And that is where they found Taylor's body. Now I ask you, who else could have taken Taylor's body to that specific location?

She made the comment about the cell phone after she learned that is where Taylor's remains were found, which is on or adjacent to her parent's farm in Mathews.

[Diane]

1inrichmond,I hear you loud and clear as I am still not convinced Ben did this.I also am wondering about Erin's comment on the cell phone unless she knows more than we do as she has been working with the police for over 2 weeks.If we are to believe that Ben drove Taylor's car back that night where has the car been all this time.When the police found the car the neighbors said it had not been parked there for long. Yea I read about the person who left stabbed one of his ex girlfriends friends.I can't remember if it had anything to do with erin.I am like you I go back and fourth.

[me]

You guys are going back and forth because they is still NO evidence that Ben did this. None. Now they do not even have a cause of death and maybe never will. I just saw on MSNBC they can not even get conclusive toxicology reports for drugs or poisons.

[Liz]

There is no way Erin C could be involved.

[me]

How is stating she was?

[Scott]

yeah, and you still have not answered me regarding who else could have put Taylor's body in that specific location. To me, that is the most damning evidence so far. And his using his credit card to get gas in that area on that same night, that is good enough for me. If I were on a jury you can not explain away those two facts to me.

[Liz]

"If he really was jumped and framed, he could be out there for that reson...."
AM,
that's why he said it, that's what he wanted you to think.

[me]

Scott...how am I supposed to know who else could have done it? Who is to say she did not take another boy out there? I thought I heard she had been there taking pictures with Ben prior to all of this. I am just saying there is still no concrete evidence that Ben did it. If there was he would have been charged already.

[Liz]

Didn't anyone hear the BF interview last night...this was before his arrest, he said in his high pitched boy voice, that TB liked mischief...so even then he was working out this whole picture he would paint....how devious.

I may be having spelling impediments today.

[Diane]

Scott, there was more than just Ben that knew of the place.Look I am keeping an opened mind to all of this as we don't know all the evidence.I will tell you I would not convict him on what I have read or learned so far.You have to have solid evidence that he commited a crime.You can't go on hear say or their would be alot more people locked up in this society.

[raven]

frankly, while it is kinda on the way, new kent courthouse is slightly out of the way (interstate 64) you can go through new kent.... but no one ever does... however there are plenty of dirt roads all over... new kent isnt EVEN half way to the spot where she was found... its just in the same general direction, alot closer to richmond tho

[blues]

>>however there are plenty of dirt roads all over... new kent isnt EVEN half way to the spot where she was found... its just in the same general direction, alot closer to richmond tho

exactly - there are plenty of dirt roads there to drop off a body. So, why didn't he use one of those. No, the dirt road that was chosen was right next to his ex-girlfriends property. I think he panicked and sought somehwere he knew.

Also, if he have a license and no car, why would he be getting gas way out there?

[blues]

>>Also, if he have a license and no car, why would he be getting gas way out there?

I menat if doesn't have a license or car...

[bull]

Ben will say he got gas for the kindly Hispanic who gave the ride back to Richmond.

[ME]

The unofficial report was that Ben was seen by the gas station attendant, Ben was alone, in a car matching the decription of Taylor's, on the date Taylor disappeared.

[ME]

He got gas out there because Taylor was a kid, gas is expensive, and she probably never planned to go that far. He got gas somewhere he thought he would not be recognized. I am not "me" I did not even see that user until I chose "ME."

[error404]

"NBC 12 When Richmond Police searched the amateur photographer’s apartment last month they didn’t find any guns, just a 32-caliber cartridge. Sources say it was around the same time two of Fawley’s guns were dropped off at the police department by a lawyer, leading to a charge against Fawley of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon."

I predict more 'injustices' of this nature will be forthcoming.

This case has become more about stereotypes and people's personal judgments, than about legitimately solving a crime.

[1inrichmond]

So then, why wasn't Ben's scent in Taylor's car--if he drove it?

[teresa]

Should have known David Baugh's name would be in this one day. The scum bags lawyer of Richmond. I hope what he and Collins did was illegal and Taylor's family sues the crap out of them.

BF would have been in prison for 5 years for that one. I don't know if it would have been 10 for having 2 guns being a felon.

Maybe Morchower will step in next. This is all making me sick.

[anon 2]

Use your head. How bad can Baugh and Collins be? He may skate on the porno charges. Without the guns' charge, Fawley (folly) could be out on Halloweeen (irony again). Why didn't the jerk toss the guns in one of the many hydraulics in the James? They never would have been recovered.

[trish]

1inrich, Im not sure we will ever know who's scent the dog picked up on. It very well have been bens I think the report is the dog picked up a scent and followed it back to (was it ) jesse's aunt and uncle's place? could of been anyone that was in taylors car and then at the house be it a visitor or unknown intruder as we dont know when the scent ended up at the house? that dreadful night? 2 days later or in the wee hours one night when noone was home.we also have no idea when taylors car was put there just some time after 10:20 on 9/5 and before i think the morning of the 17th thats 12 days of what if ,when and who? I have my opinion on the culprit but dont we all

[Trish]

anon ....ahhhh come on If you were a lawyer possibly making upwards of 100g ayear would you risk your lively hood over protecting some (ummmmm well) questionable character by risking aiding and abedding sp? a convicted felon. Police often track movements of people involved in cases including im sure defense lawyers....I sure as heck woudnt risk it all making a toos into the james for the twit however for another possibly victory notch on his belt he would possibly use legal loop holes to protect a paying client in a high profile case after all
if he won a case like this he may very well become the johnny cochran of the eastern sea board.but imho im not sure ben is much more than a spring board for a lucrative career in the eyes of collins

[Trish]

anon ....ahhhh come on If you were a lawyer possibly making upwards of 100g ayear would you risk your lively hood over protecting some (ummmmm well) questionable character by risking aiding and abedding sp? a convicted felon. Police often track movements of people involved in cases including im sure defense lawyers....I sure as heck woudnt risk it all making a toos into the james for the twit however for another possibly victory notch on his belt he would possibly use legal loop holes to protect a paying client in a high profile case after all
if he won a case like this he may very well become the johnny cochran of the eastern sea board.but imho im not sure ben is much more than a spring board for a lucrative career in the eyes of collins

[trish]

sorry for the duplicate dang machine