By By Caitlin Bell

Copyright postandcourier

Law enforcement contended other security camera footage from nearby residences captured a man they said was Taylor dressed in black exiting a truck and moving around the crime scene. His cellphone data corroborated his movements.

A series of cellphone communications between Taylor and others revealed a conspiracy and elaborate plan that formed in the week before Rivers’ violent demise, prosecutors said.

While in a state prison in Bennettsville, Darrell Williams, 33, allegedly used a contraband cellphone to communicate with Taylor and plan the murder. An accessory charge against Williams is pending.

Minutes after Taylor fired six bullets into the Mercedes, he texted the number reportedly held by Williams.

“Done,” the text read.

Taylor met up with Antwan Grant, another alleged co-conspirator, in West Ashley days later to receive the agreed upon payment of $12,200. Both of their phones pinged in the area at the same time not long after the pair spoke over the phone, the prosecution showed the jury.

Taylor was arrested and charged with murder on May 8, 2020. At that time, he was free on bond in relation to several incidents, including multiple domestic violence charges, a burglary case and drug-related charges.

“Going to affect generations”

“I thought I’d feel better right now, but I don’t,” said Trina Amlett, Rivers’ mother. “I’m still hurting.

“Having feelings is what separates us from animals … but animals don’t even kill like this,” Amlet said through tears. “Animals kill to survive — this wasn’t survival but senseless.”

She stood between her fiancé and her daughter. Both had sat through every day of the court proceedings.

“We were forfeited the opportunity to watch (Rivers) grow as a man,” Rivers’ sister DaKasha Richards said.