‘Dad choked my mum to death and hid her naked body in a wardrobe then took his own life’

Taylor's dead mum was kept in a wardrobe in the house for two weeks before his dad was arrested

Taylor Titus, 26, said he has struggled for a quarter of a century to come to terms with the horrific death of his mum Patricia Biglin.

The 41-year-old was choked to death, stripped naked and then hidden in a wardrobe at the family home.

Taylor's dad John Titus, 33, was later charged with her murder but took his own life in prison before facing trial.

Taylor, eleven-months-old at the time, was sleeping in his cot but his older brother Tyler, then aged two, was in the room and witnessed the killing.

The boys continued to be "cared for" by their dad until Patricia's body was found when a social worker came to the house to do a wellness check.

Taylor, now a student and social media influencer, from Tampa, Florida, said his mother's death on 2 June 1997 has had a devastating impact on his whole life.

Recalling the day of the murder, Taylor said his dad had forced himself into the house demanding to see his children.

"My brother was two and a half – my father told Tyler to go into the room but would peek his head out and at that point he witnessed the murder of my mother," Taylor said.

During the two weeks their mother's body was hidden in the wardrobe, the boys' dad resumed normal life: "My father would answer the door and people would ask where Patricia is.

"He would say she was down at the beach, out partying or even on vacation. "Around two weeks after the murder, a social worker came round to the house to do a wellness check.

"That's when they found my mother and my father was arrested."

Taylor said his mum had split up with his dad shortly after he was born and it is understood he did not take the break-up well and went into a "downward spiral".

Taylor added: "From what I know she was a good woman - she met my father in high school. My mother decided to separate from my father and when she did that he went into a spiral.

"He didn't handle it very well, from what I know he had a lot of issues."

After being arrested and charged with first-degree murder in June 1997, John took his own life in his cell.

Taylor said: "I will never feel the love of a parent but now I am older I have come to terms with everything.

"I don't think I connect with any parental figure and that is the hardest part for me.

"From what I know my mum was a good woman, she was very outgoing and loved to party. She liked to have fun but when she had kids that's when her life turned around and she wanted to focus on her children."

After both of his parents died, Taylor and Tyler were put in a foster home - with their grandparents, Patricia's mum and dad, campaigning for them to stay within the family.

Eventually, Taylor and his brother went to live with his auntie in Maryland, US.

He said: "My aunt already had three children that were well on their way to 18 years old.

"My brother and I were young children, but they took us in and raised us.

"At 12 years old we moved to Florida and things went downhill from there."

Taylor said he "followed the wrong path" and got involved with drugs and alcohol from a young age, but is now focussed on studying for a degree in business.

He said: "That carried on until I was around 18 or 19. I was still going to jail for trespassing and stealing.

"At 21, I was arrested for driving under the influence and that is when I realised life had to start happening.

"I never felt the love of a parent but now I am older I have come to terms with everything.

"I don't think I have ever connected with any parental figure and that is the hardest part - I will never understand that love or emotion.

"I find love through my friends and other family members but when it comes to mum and dad, I will never have that."

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