After spending months assembling evidence from city and statewide law enforcement agencies for the high-profile prosecution of alleged murderer Martin Grace, the New York County District Attorney’s office may be thwarted not by Grace’s attorney, but by the D.A.’s own son.
Next week, Grace -- the so-called “blind serial killer” -- will stand trial for the 2004 murder and rape of local hip-hop vocalist Tanya Gold. The prosecution claims Grace is also suspected in 11 more deaths across the state. The New York Times reported yesterday that Zachary Taylor, 25, is overseeing treatment of Grace at Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital.
In what has already been characterized by local legal experts as a “bizarre” case with “tenuous” claims from the prosecution, yesterday’s Times story may indicate a conflict of interest for the county’s legal team, which answers to District Attorney William V. Taylor. Zachary Taylor is the D.A.’s eldest son.
According to the Times story, Zachary Taylor, an art therapist, has been tasked with determining Grace’s mental competency to stand trial. His role at Brinkvale received media attention last week, as his therapy helped solve a 30-year-old art theft and triple homicide.
“This nepotism is clearly another cog in (William) Taylor’s scheme to convict my client of crimes he didn’t commit,” said Marian Cannon, Grace’s public defense attorney. “By enlisting the help of his own son, the D.A. is obviously trying to stack the deck with an ‘inside man.’ This behavior is beyond deplorable, and simply showcases Taylor’s personal obsession with this case.”
Neither William nor Zachary Taylor could be reached for comment, but Assistant District Attorney George De Luca released a statement to the media, saying, “[T]he selection of Zachary Taylor was a Brinkvale matter. Our office had no involvement, and we resent any implication to the contrary. While Zachary is surely a professional and would not allow familial ties influence his diagnosis, we are currently in discussions with Brinkvale staff to remedy this matter.”
Brinkvale chief administrator Theodore Peterson confirmed that District Attorney representatives have contacted him about Zachary Taylor’s involvement. He also said he has no plans to assign another therapist to the Grace case.
Grace was a “pariah” who was “shoved” through the New York state mental health system, Peterson said. But now at Brinkvale, the suspect will receive the attention he deserves, he said.
“In the three months that Zachary has worked here, he has facilitated breakthroughs with numerous patients,” Peterson said. “His unconventional, yet passionate, approach to his work -- and his uncanny ability to connect with our residents -- makes him an invaluable asset to this facility. I can think of no better Brinkvale employee to determine Grace’s competency.”
Grace, dubbed “the blind serial killer” by local media, lost his sight two years ago. According to a Brinkvale employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Grace’s blindness is psychosomatic in nature. Emotional trauma -- “which may include deep remorse for murdering those dozen people,” the source said -- is the likely cause.
Cannon stated she plans to petition the Justice Department about the possible conflict of interest.
