This episode was originally released in January 2023, and is one of seventeen episodes from the archives we’ll be bringing you every Thursday, now through top of next year. And now you know why... we’re going on tour! Get your tickets now at crimejunkiepodcast.com! Aaron Taylor was 36 and experiencing homelessness when he was lit on fire on Christmas Day in 2007. Police think they know who’s responsible… but a lack of physical evidence…coupled with reluctant witnesses…has kept this case open for years. But multiple people know what happened…and investigators are hoping they’ll come forward. If you have any information about the death of Aaron Taylor, please contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-495-5883 or email coldcasehomicide.ppd@phoenix.gov. You can also leave tips anonymously by contacting Silent Witness at 1-800-343-TIPS, or on its website at silentwitness.org. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit: crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-aaron-taylor/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllc Crime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat.Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Full Episode
Hey, Crime Junkies, it's Britt, and we're almost through our upcoming Crime Junkie Tour route, which means we are that much closer to getting to see you in person. 2025 is coming up in no time, and we can't wait to deep dive into a case with you all. But until then, you know the drill, we want to reshare a story from our next stop.
And today, we're headed back to Phoenix, Arizona, where in January 2023, Ashley told you how an innocent man's life was senselessly ripped away from him. Police are certain there are individuals who know who is responsible, but even today, justice remains to be seen.
Hi, Crime Junkies. I'm your host, Ashley Flowers. And I'm Britt. And the story I have for you today is about a truly horrific death that you probably haven't even heard of. And that's because our victim was experiencing homelessness. And for some reason, our society has decided that we shouldn't give these stories national attention. We shouldn't become obsessed with the outcomes of those cases.
But we crime junkies don't buy into that. This is absolutely a case you'll be obsessed with and furious over. This is the story of Aaron Taylor. It's Christmas Day 2007, a Tuesday. And despite the holiday, there is this strip mall in Paradise Valley Village, which is a neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona.
And it has no shortage of customers, thanks to a Circle K convenience store on one end of the plaza. And that thing's open 24-7. One of those customers is this guy named Nimoy. He's with a woman headed to the Circle K from his nearby apartment. And this is like 6.50 p.m.
And suddenly, the both of them hear screaming coming from an open-air breezeway, which is basically like a walkway that separates some of the buildings. And it sounds like a man screaming, but they can't really see what's going on until they come around the side of the Subway sandwich shop to a courtyard that has these like concrete picnic tables and like benches.
And something is on one of those benches right next to the Subway. And whatever it is, is on fire. And at first they don't know what they're looking at, but they quickly realize that it is a person engulfed in flames. Oh, my God. Nimoy and the woman rush over to the Circle K to get help. There's actually a customer who's leaving the store and they like tell them, listen, someone is on fire.
We need your cell phone to call 911. Now, listen, the customer had seen something burning when he drove into the parking lot, but he figured it was like a tiki torch because one of the restaurants had some of those outside. So this guy actually thinks that these people are screwing around with him. And so he tells them that he doesn't have a cell phone, even though he actually does.
Can you even imagine being told, hey, there's a guy on fire and just not caring or checking it out or anything?
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