Friday, October 9, 2020

The body of 27-year-old Taylor Nichole Nichols, who was reported missing Friday, Sept. 25, was found during a grid-search of a heavily wooded area near Many Walmart on Wednesday morning, Oct. 7. Some 35 law enforcement officers and first responders, as well as cadaver dogs, from Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes helped in the effort.

“The FBI was there when we discovered her remains,” Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell shared. “Our hearts go out to this young lady’s family and friends. This loss of life is truly tragic.”

According to Sabine Chief Deputy Brad Walker, the Sheriff’s Office has received the results of the preliminary autopsy, which was performed at Ochsner-LSU Health in Shreveport at 7:05 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, by a team led by Dr. James Taylor, M.D.

“The report shows no evidence of injury or trauma to the body,” Walker stated.

As soon as Nichols was reported missing by family members on Friday, Sept. 25, the Sabine Sheriff’s Office entered her information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), an electronic clearinghouse that can be tapped into by virtually every criminal justice agency nationwide 24/7, and the SPSO launched a vigorous investigation.

While collecting phone records and carefully running down each lead that came in, the Sheriff’s Office also solicited information on her whereabouts in a Facebook post on Monday, Sept. 28.

They learned Taylor Nichols’ vehicle had been parked at Walmart, but towed at Walmart’s request shortly after Sept. 18 by Ronny Bison. Phone records also revealed the last time of any activity on her phone had been that same day – Sept. 18.

Early the week of Sept. 28, Walmart provided all related video footage to the Sheriff’s Office and investigators were able to view it. The footage showed Taylor entering and shopping inside the store around 7:30 p.m., exiting and walking to her parked car. Footage showed that she entered the driver’s side of her vehicle, then exited on the passenger side, walking out of camera range toward the south exit of the Walmart property.

Though video footage from other nearby businesses was also viewed, none of it offered any clues or had any images of Taylor.

An ID card belonging to Nichols was found on Sept. 28 about 30-40 yards from Hwy. 171 in the hay field just south of Walmart, which prompted a more thorough search of that area for any other signs of the missing woman.

As the investigation unfolded, however, more than one reputable witness provided reports to the Sheriff’s Office of having seen Taylor Nichols on Alabama Ave.

Everything that was coming out in the investigation, including the Alabama Ave. sightings, left the public wondering if perhaps Nichols had caught a ride after her Walmart stop or walked across town to another location. But as the investigation developed, the witnesses later concluded they had seen Nichols on Alabama Ave. before her disappearance rather than afterward.

In the meantime, valiant search efforts continued.

On Monday, Oct. 5, while combing 60-80 acres of the field and wooded area between Many Walmart and Patrick-Miller Tractor Co., searchers found a face mask, a $5 bill, leggings believed to have been a Walmart purchase by Taylor, and the shoes she had been wearing. The items were not all together, but scattered throughout the wooded area.

Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., Nichols’ body was found about 600 yards west of Hwy. 171 in a very heavily wooded site.

“The growth was so thick we had to crawl into the area,” Walker said. Investigators processed the scene, and the young woman’s body was sent to Shreveport for an autopsy.

Experts tell Observations a reasonably healthy person cannot survive long outdoors unprotected from the elements and only about three days without water. Depending on what further autopsy results reveal, it seems doubtful Nichols survived the first night after walking away from her vehicle at Walmart.

As Observations was posted online Friday, the final autopsy report had not been issued yet and a toxicology report was pending.

Our deepest sympathies are extended to Taylor Nichols’ family and friends. We, like everyone, had hoped and prayed for a better outcome. 

CALLING ALL CHILI COOKS!

The next Social Distance Social will feature “The Great Chili Cook-Off” to raise funds for Project Celebration/Taylor House. Lots of local businesses and individuals are already jumping on board to help this worthy cause.

You’re invited to pit your chili-making skills against Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Community Bank of Louisiana, Attorney Ronald Brandon, Ark-La-Tex Financial and others who will all vie to earn the top spot at the Great Chili Cook-Off fundraiser on Saturday evening, Oct. 24, in downtown Many. Call or text Laurie Gentry at (318) 332-7873 now to register to be in the Cook-Off and reserve street space for your table or tent; she can supply more info about the Cook-Off. Electricity for crockpots or warming pans will be provided.

All chili will be served with masks and gloves in lidded sample cups with individually wrapped spoons, and these supplies will be provided free of charge by the event to each chili chef.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and there’s no better way for the public to support this wonderful, local cause than to enjoy some great chili on Oct. 24!

• A “Sample Them All” ticket will be available for $5.
• An “Eat it All” ticket for $10 will include a free sample of every chili and all-you-can-eat chili afterward until it’s all gone – bowls provided.
• Or, boost your support with a $20 “Greatest Chili Judge” ticket, and become an official judge, which includes an official judging form, the first samples of all chili (reserved for judges only) and all-you-can-eat chili afterward.

The winning chili will be determined by “Greatest Chili Judge” ticket buyers, and the winner will be awarded the “Great Chili Cook-Off” trophy. All monies will be donated to Project Celebration.

As Observations was being readied to post, we got word Country Music Legend Bill Anderson will be with me and Tedd Dumas on Tedd’s popular “Open Line” radio program this Monday morning, Oct. 12, at 7:30 a.m.

Anderson is regarded as one of the nation’s top and most-awarded songwriters in addition to his career as a singer.  Some of his self-penned hits include “Po’ Folks,” “Bright Lights and Country Music,” “Still” and “Tips of My Fingers.” Younger listeners will be more familiar with newer hits he has written for other artists, such as “Whiskey Lullaby,” “Give it Away” and “Which Bridge to Cross (Which  Bridge to Burn.)”

He will be talking about his new CD entitled “The Hits Re-Imagined,” how COVID-19 has affected Country Music generally and his life, in particular, and about his 59th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

So please tune in and give a listen on Monday morning.

That will do it for this short Friday lagniappe edition of Observations. Thanks for reading, as always. Please contact me with your suggestions and ideas for future articles. Send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com or call me at (318) 332-8653. To see columns of the recent past, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page. To print, save or send today’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.

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