Holyoke drug fugitive Cory Taylor found dead in abandoned city building

Staff report

Published: 10-24-2020 2:32 PM

HOLYOKE — The body of Cory A. Taylor, the alleged marijuana trafficker who has been a fugitive since he disappeared in August after making bail at a local county jail, was discovered by police in a vacant city building at 545 Main St. on Thursday, James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, confirmed Saturday.

Leydon told MassLive that Taylor, 41, was found dead in an abandoned warehouse by the building’s owner. The medical examiner’s office has identified the body as Taylor, Leydon confirmed.

Leydon told MassLive that Taylor’s body was found near his residence. In August, police raided a converted firehouse with significant high-end renovations at 452 Main St. in Holyoke that law enforcement suspected Taylor used as a base of operations for an illegal pot operation. The Aug. 22 search yielded 188 pounds of marijuana, 24 illegal guns, eight cars and $4,049,000 in cash.

The manner of Taylor’s death has not been publicly disclosed, according to MassLive.

When reached by the Gazette on Saturday, Leydon declined to comment.

Taylor was arrested on Aug. 21 in Pelham when state police allegedly found 138 pounds of marijuana in a van he was driving. He was brought to the Hampshire County House of Correction, where he was bailed out the same day. Taylor did not appear for his arraignment in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, according to police and court records.

Police gained consent to search a house Taylor’s mother owns at 2 Fay Road in New Salem. There, law enforcement said they found 37 cars valued at more than $1 million.

Law enforcement had warned the public in August that Taylor was believed to be armed and dangerous.

]]>

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles