Student Murders Her Ex-Teacher After Graduation
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖72-year-old retired teacher William "Bill" Dubo Jr. was found brutally murdered in his Fort Smith, Arkansas home on July 11, 2019.
- ❖Bill's red Ford Focus and two TVs were missing from his ransacked apartment, with no signs of forced entry.
- ❖His wife, Susan Dubo, used a car tracker to locate Bill's vehicle at a house where 21-year-old Taylor Elkins, a former student, was present.
- ❖Elkins initially claimed a person named "Shawn" gave her the car, then alleged Bill gave it to her for sexual favors, both stories proving inconsistent.
- ❖Elkins was the granddaughter of Denton Stringer, the neighbor who reported Bill missing, and had a history of legal issues and children removed by DHS.
- ❖Jailhouse informant Terry provided a detailed confession from Elkins, stating she beat Bill 36 times with a hammer during a robbery because he had no money.
- ❖Taylor Elkins pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on January 16, 2020, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, avoiding the death penalty or a life sentence.
- ❖Elkins reportedly showed no remorse and has accumulated numerous disciplinary violations during her incarceration.
Insights
1Discovery of Bill Dubo's Murder and Missing Items
Officer Hendricks responded to a welfare check for Bill Dubo Jr., a 72-year-old retired teacher, after a neighbor reported not seeing him for days. Upon gaining entry, officers discovered Bill's body in his bathroom, with blood evidence throughout the home. His red Ford Focus, two TVs, wallet, and phone were missing, and there was no sign of forced entry, suggesting the victim knew his assailant.
Neighbor Denton Stringer reported a loud 'boom' days prior. Officers noted an 'odd smell' and flies. Inside, Bill was found dead, and officers documented missing items like TVs, wallet, and phone, along with blood splatter. (, , )
2Identification of Taylor Elkins and Her Inconsistent Alibis
Bill's wife, Susan Dubo, used her car's tracker to locate his missing Ford Focus. The car was found at a residence where Taylor Elkins, a 21-year-old former student of Bill's, was present. Elkins initially claimed a man named 'Shawn' gave her the car, then later changed her story to suggest Bill had given it to her in exchange for sexual favors. Her statements were inconsistent, and officers recognized her from previous encounters, noting her history of legal issues.
Susan Dubo's car tracker led police to the location of Bill's car. Taylor Elkins was found with the car and claimed it was given to her by 'Shawn' () or by Bill for sexual favors (). An officer noted Elkins had '10 felonies pending' and her children had been taken by DHS (, ).
3Jailhouse Confession Reveals Brutal Motive and Weapon
Months after Elkins' arrest on theft and hindering charges, jailhouse informant Terry came forward, claiming Elkins confessed details of the murder. Terry stated Elkins admitted to beating Bill Dubo 36 times with a hammer during a robbery because he didn't have money, and she was high. Elkins reportedly showed no remorse for the 'overkill' and denied Bill had ever hurt or forced her.
Terry, an inmate, contacted detectives, stating Elkins confided in her. Terry revealed the murder weapon was a hammer, not a lamp (), and that Elkins hit Bill 36 times () because he didn't have money during a robbery while she was high (). Elkins allegedly said, 'I'm wrong, but I don't care now. It's not like I can bring him back.' ()
Lessons
- Maintain a car tracker or GPS on vehicles, especially for vulnerable individuals, as it can be critical in locating missing persons or evidence in criminal investigations.
- Document and investigate all inconsistencies in suspect statements, as these often indicate deception and can lead to further breakthroughs in a case.
- Consider the potential for jailhouse informants to provide valuable, specific details that can corroborate other evidence or reveal motives, while also being mindful of their motivations.
Notable Moments
Officer Hendricks' initial welfare check and suspicion of foul play.
Despite no forced entry, the missing car, neighbor's 'boom' report, and an 'odd smell' led Officer Hendricks to trust her gut, preventing the case from being dismissed as a natural death.
Susan Dubo's use of a car tracker to locate her husband's missing vehicle.
This technological aid provided an immediate and precise lead, directly connecting Taylor Elkins to the victim's property and significantly accelerating the investigation.
The jailhouse confession from inmate Terry.
Terry's detailed account of Taylor Elkins' confession, including the weapon (hammer) and the motive (robbery for money while high), provided crucial evidence that solidified the murder charges and contributed to Elkins' guilty plea.
Quotes
"His I didn't even notice his TV's missing, too. TV's missing. No wallet, no phone. There's no force entry to the apartment. There's blood splatter near his chair."
"I said, Taylor, I said, "You can't I said that?" I said, "That's overkill." Like, you got mad. I said, "Did I said, did he ever hurt you or force you?" She said, "No.""
"I'm so glad I went with my gut on that one."
"It was not a lamp, it was a hammer. I don't know why they sent you to the sewer because her grandfather told her to take it to the dump. It's in six different locations at the dump. Uh there was nobody in the house. Nobody with her solo. And it was no surprise. He let her in and her exact words were wrong. I'm wrong. But I don't care now. It's not like I can bring him back."
"She just got mad because he didn't have money or he you know and she hit him with the hammer 36 times."
Q&A
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