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The Trial & Sentencing of Sarah Taylor
The Woman Who Killed Madi
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May 7, 2008 Madi's Died of severe brain trama after being shaken to death by Sarah Taylor. It took 3 years and 7 months for the one who killed her to be brought to Justice
I have been working in the area of fighting Child Abuse for a very long time. My earlier battles were based on my own experience of Child Abuse while living with my mother for the first 11 years of my life.
Nothing or no story has touched me more then the story of Madison Cundiff. Hope Cundiff (Madison's Grandmother) has been a friend for quite a while. As soon as I read her story, she became someone who I have become very close to in the fight against Child Abuse. I was so moved by her story that it launched my first campaign The Pledge for Kids Campaign which has recently been replaced with The Madi Campaign.
After three years and seven months of fighting, crying, praying, waiting, and frustration, Hope has finally reached a place where she can see Madi's killer brought to Justice. Below, you will find details of the trial and final sentencing of Sarah Taylor which was received from Hope Cundiff in Emails. These are placed here in the format which she sent them in and nothing about them has been changed. Her Emails express her pain and her continued show of faith better then any words I could ever write.
This page provides the foundation and motivation behind the the Madi Campaign.
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First Week of Sarah Taylor's Trial
December 07, 2007
Well folks, the first week is behind us, before I start to give you an update on this week's outcome, I have to take just a minute to say "THANK YOU MY SWEET FRIENDS" and again may GOD bless you for your support and prayers......But I can say without hesitating, no one would ever understand what we have been through in the last week, unless you have walked in our shoes......you couldn't imagine......and I PRAY so hard that none of you have to feel what my family has felt the last week and for the past 3 yrs and 7 months............
As we arrived in Lexington on Sunday in anticipation that the trial would actually start at 9am on Monday morning, well the first kick was, they had to sit the jury, which was explained to us, that would have been done prior to Monday....so we waited at the hotel for that to be done, at around 2pm, the jury was sat and sworn.......then began opening statements and then my son was the first to take the stand........now you must keep in mind, he and I are kept in the hotel and out of the courtroom and will continue to be isolated until closing arguments in case of rebuttal.........I have a dear friend sitting each and every day in the courtroom, so I do not have first hand knowledge of court proceedings, mainly who is testifying and general information of what is being introduced......
I can only hope that each of you have a friend like our family has, this woman has sat through testimony, hospital pictures of Madi in her last hours, and worst of all, very, very graphic autopsy images of Madi and more information than anyone besides Medical Personnel should ever have to digest in a lifetime......to her, our family will FOREVER be indebted..........
I myself testified on Wednesday, and of course the news media played on my disgust for Sarah.......Madi's mother, testified on Thursday, originally planned for Wednesday, but due to the fact she had a severe seizure on Tuesday and sent to the hospital, was rescheduled. She did not do so well on the stand, I can only hope it was shown to the jury how the death of her child has affected her.....I must say, from all I do know, the Prosecutor is doing a fantastic job and has proven to this point WITHOUT a doubt that SARAH ELIZABETH TAYLOR violently attacked our MADI......The defense has tried every dirty trick in the book and the prosecutor has not wavered.........
I have been told, that Sarah has turned the tears on as if by cue, and off when her anger came through that she could not control.........
The experts, the prosecution has presented, are some of the best in this country, leaving little doubt as to what happened the morning of May 5th in my son's home.
Folks when this is over, and I can state my actual OPINIONS and facts in this case, you are gonna be in SHOCK from what you learn.....I can tell you, I have said all along, I did not want Sarah to get DEATH as I felt it was too easy...........well through this and at this point, I would like to be the one to strap her on the table...............It is just not imaginable to me that someone is so evil and can do to a child what this woman has done................
The defense began their case yesterday and we came home late last night after court was adjourned for the weekend......we will be heading back to begin again on Monday..........
The case is scheduled to last until Thursday of next week, I just cannot wait until JUDGMENT day, I wonder if she will smile then.............
PLEASE< PLEASE........continue to pray for my family to help get us through this..........God Bless You all!
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The Verdict
(Copied from an article written about the Verdict by Hope and sent to me.)
VERDICT
Woman convicted of reckless homicide in death of toddler
By Brandon Ortiz
BORTIZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
A Lexington woman accused of shaking her former boyfriend's toddler to death was convicted yesterday of reckless homicide.
The verdict for Sarah Taylor, 28, fell short of the murder conviction prosecutors had asked for in the death of Madison "Madi" Cundiff, who was 22 months old. But it was more than the outright acquittal that defense attorneys wanted.
The jury recommended the maximum sentence of five years. If Fayette Circuit Judge Sheila Isaac imposes that sentence at a hearing Jan. 11, Taylor would be eligible for parole after serving 11 months.
Madi's paternal grandmother, Hope, said she'll never forgive Taylor. She wants her to spend her entire sentence in prison.
Hope Cundiff said it was painful to sit through the trial.
"It was hard enough burying Madi," she said. "But we had to listen to details. We knew a lot of it. But some of the things, we weren't expecting them. It was hard."
Taylor, who had been out of jail on bond, was taken into custody shortly after the sentence recommendation was announced. She waved to her crying family members and said "I love you all" as she was taken out of the courtroom.
On May 6, 2004, Madi was rushed to the University of Kentucky Medical Center and treated for a traumatic brain injury. She died the next day.
Two months later, the Fayette County coroner determined that Madi had died of "shaken impact syndrome," which is typically caused when someone vigorously shakes an infant. In October 2004, Lexington police declared the death a homicide.
Defense lawyer Bernie Pafunda said the forensic evidence overwhelmingly pointed to Taylor's innocence. Taylor contends that the toddler accidentally fell down the stairs and hit her head on the wall.
Pafunda noted bruises on a left toe and right shoulder, which he said were from falling down the stairs. He pointed to expert testimony that the girl had carpet burns.
And most important, Madi did not have bruises or grip marks from having been shaken, he said. It's impossible for her to have been shaken to death and not have grip marks, Pafunda said.
Taylor was dating David Cundiff at the time and was supposed to watch Madi while he was at work. Taylor has two children of her own, including a girl she had with David Cundiff.
Pafunda noted that prosecutors have acknowledged that they won't be able to prove a motive for the killing. And he said explanations by prosecution witnesses for exculpatory evidence were guesses. He pointed to an expert who said that Madi might have gotten the carpet burns by rolling around on the carpet rather than falling down the stairs.
"Guesses aren't any good," Pafunda said.
First Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Lou Anna Red Corn said Pafunda is pointing to red herrings. Red Corn said Taylor's story is inconsistent and doesn't add up.
She said Madi's injuries were too severe to have been caused by a fall down the stairs.
Taylor told police that Madi was conscious after she fell down the stairs. But Red Corn said that's impossible. Her head injuries would have rendered her unconscious immediately.
Taylor called a friend and David Cundiff before calling 911. Red Corn said Taylor was planting her story to cover her tracks.
Reach Brandon Ortiz at (859) 231-1443 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1443.
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Message From Hope
********I have tried not to put my opinion until now. I can tell you folks, we were told what to say, what to leave out, which was everything, they were trying to convict on MURDER with the evidence alone, they thought that would make a stronger case.............If the jury had all the facts, they would have found her guilty on MURDER, NO QUESTION...but, I got what I prayed for, I said, I just wanted to see her get justice before I die and she did, a Class D Felony, has basically ruined any kind of life she could have had, and bottom line, She will get her FINAL JUSTICE in front of the ALMIGHTY GOD above in the end!!!!!!!!
The face of the woman responsible for ending the life of Madison Cundiff. This is the picture taken when she was booked. Hope sent this to me in an Email also and it came from the public record.
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Final Sentencing
The Judge set Sarah Taylor's sentence at 5 years, denied motions to dismiss the juries decision, denied probation and restitution is pending for our family in the thousands, we have to submit receipts and records for medical and funeral expenses.............THE JUDGE ALSO DENIED ME , MY RIGHT TO ADDRESS SARAH IN COURT YESTERDAY. The prosecutor ask that I prepare a 5 minute statement so not to take much of the courts time, I did that and it is attached................YES, we got a SMALL bit of JUSTICE FOR MADI, but the DEFENSE stated yesterday, this wasn't about JUSTICE FOR MADI, it was about JUSTICE FOR SARAH........you all decide!
PREPARED STATEMENT FOR FINAL SENTENCING
First and foremost, I want to thank this court for allowing me a few minutes prior to sentencing to make this statement. I also want to thank this court for My Madi for the small bit of Justice in her name as this beautiful little angel deserves that much!
Since I was given such a small bit of time, I wish to paraphrase the Impact Statement Submitted on December 31, 2007 after conviction. To explain the IMPACT Madi's death has had on our family is impossible. To realize the IMPACT on our family, everyone in this court would have had to know and love MADI! Madi was a beautiful, innocent little 22 month angel even while on this earth for such a short time. Madi didn't deserve to be mistreated by anyone, much less, be murdered even if through an unintentional act by a momentary fit of rage. Madi was VERY afraid of Sarah Elizabeth Taylor and many facts which would have proven that fact were omitted within the trial as was other evidence which could have brought about a harsher conviction.
I plead with this court to consider the additional information of which it is aware to determine an appropriate final sentence for Sarah Elizabeth Taylor.
Sarah most importantly, cost our family, Madi's life, but also thousand of dollars since Madi's death. Sarah should at least be held responsible for the University Hospital bill for Madi's care after her deadly injury.
Sarah Elizabeth Taylor has forever changed The Cundiff Family lives. There will always be a precious memory now in our lives, instead of a bright future. Could this court, ever forget loosing a member of their family in this way? The Emotional and Psychological Impact on our family will last forever!
The Taylor family blames our family for Sarah's incarceration. We did not take her life; we really didn't even have a part in the conviction as it was based on facts and evidence. The Taylor family, can still visit Sarah, we have to stand beside a grave and talk to our angel, praying for the strength to live a life worthy of reuniting with Madi in Heaven.
I would also ask this court to direct Sarah and her entire family to leave our family alone from this point on. Prior charges of Harassment, Child neglect and abuse should be considered in doing so along with strong wording of the 2006 Kentucky Crime Victim's Bill of rights!
I find it very sad to believe that the loss of Madi's life is comparable to using slugs to steal in excess of $100 of cokes according to the laws of this state. This court knows exactly to what I refer as indicated in the entire Victim's Impact statement. Madi's life is worth much more to our family than our justice system sets forth.
I also ask this court to direct the Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorneys office to consider additional charges against Sarah Taylor through facts proven within the trial.
Perhaps I could have felt some kind of sympathy for Sarah, if she had only admitted to what she had done. I at times, even wondered if the abuse Sarah stated she suffered at the hands of her step-father caused her actions. But there is NO EXCUSE for taking a child's life.
Madi was innocent but yet she paid for Sarah's crime with her life, I just ask the court to remember that.
Sarah's actions have spoken volumes of just what kind of human being she really is. The best example of this was shown with her laughter at the hospital while Madi Lay dying and again at the funeral home.
Sarah's temper, jealousy and selfishness put her here today. I have pictures I wish I could share with this court to prove just how affected Sarah has been since Madi's death. Perhaps the ones where Sarah looks so happy, drunk or high, hanging off many different men at bars. I wish I could show the profiles of her MySpace and Mojo filth and making fun of handicapped children when her common child with my son was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Sarah fooled many people with her poor little me act, but the truth is, she enjoyed life to the fullest since causing Madi's death and I have the proof!
I made a promise to Madi at her grave, which Sarah heard every word "Baby Girl, I will not stop until you get justice and the one who hurt you pays". Today, we have a small bit of that Justice for Madi, but I can be ok with whatever happens in this court today, as I know and believe.
SARAH ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S final justice will be given as she stands before the ALMIGHTY GOD in Heaven!
THE CUNDIFF FAMILY THANKS YOU!
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