Jury Finds Accomplice Guilty Of Teen’s Death

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A Shreveport man dodged a life sentence when a jury convicted him of manslaughter for his role in the death of a teen and her unborn child in 2008.

The Times reports 27-year-old Marcus Taylor initially was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the 2008 death of Tavia Sills. But a Caddo jury deliberated less than three hours Thursday before finding him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Taylor faces up to 40 years when sentenced Oct. 30.

Prosecutors say Taylor helped LaMondre Tucker kill his estranged girlfriend. Sills' body was found floating in a north Shreveport pond. She was four months pregnant at the time. Tucker remains on death row after a Caddo jury convicted him in March 2011 for the murder.