Fawley's Own Statement Believed to Have Played Critical Role in IndictmentBy

Prosecutors have never described a motive for the alleged slaying, but Pelasara has said she believes that Fawley murdered the young woman after she ended their brief love affair.

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The pretty young co-ed vanished last September, triggering a massive month-long search that ended when her remains were found in a shallow grave on a remote farm linked to Fawley in this eastern Virginia community. The young women's remains were so severely decomposed that a cause of death was not readily apparent and no evidence relating to the cause of death was presented to the grand jury.

Despite that, suspicion quickly focused on Fawley, the victim's former boyfriend — a youthful looking photographer, diagnosed as bi-polar and known to have a penchant for younger women. A search of his apartment turned up a handgun and child pornography. He was charged with possession of both, though the weapons charge was later dropped.

While in custody, Fawley made a statement — against the advice of his attorney — implicating himself in Behl's death, authorities have said.

While Commonwealth Attorney Jack Gill declined to discuss the evidence against Fawley, that statement is believed to have played a critical role in the grand jury's decision to indict him on first-degree murder charges.

In his statement, Fawley allegedly admitted to accidentally killing her during rough sex.

That admission was considered crucial enough that prosecutors agreed in December to dismiss an unrelated weapons charge against Fawley in order to use it. A convicted felon, Fawley was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Authorities decided to drop that weapons charge so that Collins, who was considered a witness in that case, could be present when Fawley spoke to investigators about his role in Behl's death.

In a telephone interview shortly after the indictment was unsealed, Collins said the grand jury's decision came as no surprise. "Given the pressure the prosecutor was under from the media and the mom, I'm a little bit relieved it wasn't a capital indictment," he said. "But frankly I think even a first degree is above what the crime is," Collins said. "I think we're talking about a manslaughter at most and maybe even an accident."

Pelasara, who attended the grand jury presentation, told Crime Library last week that she agreed with the Commonwealth Attorney's decision to seek life in prison for her daughter's accused killer.

"I can tell you that I do not want the death penalty for him because I think that an injection is too good for him...it's too quick and not enough pain involved," she said. "I am hoping that he is convicted, sent to a state penitentiary and...I hope he is loved to death. Literally.

"I might be the meanest person in the world to say that," Pelasara said, "but I hope he feels fear and the...humiliation...the horror that he put Taylor through."

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Contact Seamus McGraw at seamusm@ptd.net

Seamus McGraw

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