A jury found a Georgia man guilty of forcing his girlfriend into a wooded area and shooting her dead while she was holding their baby and sentenced him to life in prison.
Taco Nash, 22, was found guilty of 13 felony counts in connection with the June 2022 death of Mic’Keya Montgomery, 21, the mother of his 16-month-old daughter. According to courtroom reports from local ABC affiliate WSB, Nash stalked Montgomery to a Decatur day care centre and attempted to forcibly remove her and the baby. Nash then kidnapped the mother and child, dragging Montgomery into a nearby wooded area at gunpoint while holding the child, and shooting her to death.
The child was not injured and appears to be living with Montgomery’s family.
During the trial, DeKalb County Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Johnson showed a court video of Nash accosting Montgomery outside the day care centre on June 15, 2022. As Montgomery waited for a ride-sharing vehicle with her daughter, Nash approached her and she yelled at him to leave. Fearful, the young mother ran back inside the day care.
Nash entered the day care and began making violent threats, prompting a rush of employees and parents to get the children inside for safety. Johnson told the court that Nash yelled, “I’m going to kill you.” I’m going to kill that baby and then commit suicide.”
One of the prosecution’s witnesses was the center’s office manager, who confirmed that version of events. She testified that Nash refused to leave Montgomery alone and terrorised her while he was in the day care.
Nash’s history of abuse against Montgomery was also discussed in court, according to WSB. Montgomery had ended her relationship with Nash due to the abuse she had received from him. Johnson read a note written by Montgomery two weeks before her death, which stated, “I can’t stay any longer because if I do, you’ll kill me someday.”
Arnold Ragas, Nash’s defence attorney, attempted to persuade the court that Montgomery shot herself by pointing to a note she allegedly wrote that was discovered in her purse. Ragas also stated that the gun that killed Montgomery was discovered in her own hand, and Nash was caught on camera telling police, “She shot herself.”
However, the jury remained unconvinced. After four hours of deliberation, they found Nash guilty of all charges, including one count of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, and cruelty to children.
Nash received three life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 60 years. Montgomery’s family received a permanent protective order as well.
