(WXYZ) — The U.S. Marshals are on a multi-state manhunt to find a couple believed to have shot and robbed two people, set their house on fire and took off with a 5-year-old child.
Marshals have been searching for Robert Young and Nicole Taylor since September, that’s when police say they shot two people in Ohio. But the search is now intensifying as they learned Young served 18 years in prison for murder, and then Taylor's 5-year-old son never showed up for the first day of kindergarten.
"Taylor knocks on the door of the home, she tricked the victim to open it, they open it and Young is behind her – who had a gun and shot the woman," said Deputy U.S. Marshal Aaron Garcia.
Police say 46-year-old Robert Young and 38-year-old Nicole Taylor shot and robbed two people inside their Youngstown, Ohio home back in Septemeber 2019.
"She plays dead, he encounters another victim down there in the basement and shoots her in the face," said Garcia.
According to police, Young and Taylor tried to set the house on fire.
"It does do enough to activate the smoke alarm," Garcia said.
Fire crews arrived on scene and found the two victims, while Young and Taylor were nowhere to be found.
"This occurs right around Sept.19," said Garcia. "On Sept. 21 is the last sighting of Nicole Taylor and Robert Young is video of him carrying several duffle bags form the gym in Ohio."
It’s also the last time anyone saw Taylor's 5-year-old son.
"So Nicole, she has sole custody of this child, she didn’t kidnap him, this is her child, so there has been no Amber Alert," Garcia said.
But the U.S. Marshals believe he’s also with Robert Young, who pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Wayne County in 1992 and served 18 years in a Michigan prison.
"This young child is in danger," said Garcia.
The Marshals say Young is from metro Detroit and has family ties in Farmington Hills, which is why they’re asking for your help to find the couple and Taylor's young child.
"We’re working a joint, multi-state fugitive investigation," Garcia said. "They could be anywhere, however, he has strong ties from here, we believe he’s going to be here."
As always, there's a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of Young and Taylor. You can call the Marshals anytime at (313) 234-5656.
