![Jailed Rape Suspect Now Wanted For Murder Of St. Landry Woman](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2015/11/Jamal-Scott-James-mugshot-1.jpg?w=300&h=200&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Jailed Rape Suspect Now Wanted For Murder Of St. Landry Woman
A St. Landry Parish man who was arrested in 2014 for aggravated rape, is now being charged with first degree murder.
St .Landry Parish Sheriff's Office Spokesman Capt. Clay Higgins said a district judge charged 26-year-old Jamal Scott James with first degree murder in the Sept. 17, 2014 death of 66-year-old Margie Marie Taylor.
James is already in prison for aggravated rape and attempted first degree murder for another crime sheriff's detectives had investigated.
Following Taylor's death, investigators collected DNA and ballistics evidence, but had no suspect.
On May 4, an Opelousas Police Department supervisor acquired a .22-caliber revolver that a citizen had found wrapped in soiled clothes hidden in their used SUV. Ballistics testing determined the hidden weapon was indeed used to kill Taylor. DNA testing of the clothing linked James to the murder.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Lafayette Man Arrested for Stealing Over $500K From Infirmed Person](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Two Arrested for Prostitution and Money Laundering at Opelousas, Louisiana Massage Parlor](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/06/attachment-Green-Spa-in-Opelousas.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![South Louisiana Family Rescued From St. Landry Parish Flood Waters](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/01/attachment-St-Landry-Parish-Rescue-Flood.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fight Between Brothers in Sunset, Louisiana Leads to Stand-Off and One Shot in Hand](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/08/attachment-RS34782_GettyImages-167237321.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Eunice, Louisiana Woman Arrested for Counterfeit Death Certificate After Allegedly Faking Pregnancy](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/11/attachment-Untitled-design.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Sex Offender in Opelousas, Louisiana Arrested on Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Juvenile](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2018/10/handcuffs-photo-by-KPEL2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lafayette, Louisiana Man’s Ecstasy Delivery Service Shut Down by St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/02/attachment-GettyImages-56073846.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Meth, Ecstasy, and Crack Cocaine Part of Major Drug Bust in Eunice, Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/10/attachment-st-landry-parish-sheriff-deputy.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Drug Operation With Enough Fentanyl to ‘Kill Approximately 1,250,000 People’ Busted in Sunset, Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/03/attachment-sunset-louisiana-fentanyl-drug-bust.jpg?w=980&q=75)