The Texas Attorney General ruled Aug. 28, 2026, that Brazoria County may withhold investigative information tied to the Rebecca “Becky” Beard case, but must release basic information.
More records in the decades-old Rebecca “Becky” Beard case will remain out of public view for now.
The Texas Attorney General issued a new ruling Aug. 28 allowing Brazoria County to withhold investigative information because authorities say it relates to an ongoing criminal case.
But the ruling comes with an important exception.
Brazoria County must release the basic information.
I have already requested it.
New ruling in the Rebecca Beard records investigation
Rebecca “Becky” Beard pictured with her daughter before Becky disappeared from Freeport, Texas, in March 1986.
Beard was 22 when she disappeared after leaving the Excalibur Club in Freeport in March 1986.
Her body has never been recovered.
Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in 1995 in connection with her death, but questions surrounding the case have continued for decades.
My investigation has included multiple public information requests seeking Brazoria County records connected to the case.
Those requests have now resulted in another Attorney General ruling.
Brazoria County says the criminal case is ongoing
The Aug. 28 decision provides an important detail about the current status of the investigation.
According to the Attorney General, Brazoria County said a law enforcement agency objected to releasing the information because it “relates to an ongoing criminal case.”
The county argued that releasing the records could interfere with that case.
The Attorney General agreed that the investigative information may be withheld under Section 552.108(a)(1) of the Texas Government Code.
However, the ruling also says the county must release basic information under Section 552.108(c).
Eight Brazoria County records requests included in ruling
The Attorney General combined eight Brazoria County reference numbers in the decision:
26-1859, 26-1865, 26-1874, 26-1933, 26-1947, 26-1950, 26-1991 and 26-2012.
The Attorney General assigned the matter request ID 26-033498.
The Aug. 28 decision is OR2026-038106.
What will Brazoria County release?
That is now the question.
The ruling does not mean Brazoria County must turn over the entire investigative file.
It does mean the county cannot withhold everything.
I have submitted a follow-up request seeking the basic information that the Attorney General says must be released.
Once those records arrive, I will review them and report what they reveal.
After 40 years, the Rebecca Beard case continues to generate new questions — and the state now confirms that authorities still consider the matter tied to an ongoing criminal case.
Read the Attorney General ruling
I have included the Aug. 28, 2026 Texas Attorney General ruling connected to these Brazoria County records requests below.
The ruling, OR2026-038106, says the county may withhold investigative information tied to the ongoing criminal case, but must release basic information.
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Texas Department of Public Safety missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared in 1986.
Brazoria County seeks to withhold Rebecca Beard records
Brazoria County prosecutors are asking the Texas Attorney General for permission to withhold records connected to the renewed investigation into the 1986 disappearance and murder of Rebecca “Becky” Beard.
The August 25 filing also reveals new details about the investigation.
Prosecutors confirmed investigators examined information involving possible additional suspects in Beard’s murder. They also confirmed investigators recently presented their findings to a Brazoria County grand jury.
The grand jury took no action.
Records request targeted 2026 investigation
I submitted a Texas Public Information Act request on August 10 seeking records related to the 2026 investigation.
The request focused on information provided by Cherie Starr, also known as “Rio.”
I requested interviews, statements, reports, recordings, photographs, maps and investigative notes connected to Starr’s information.
I also sought records concerning any location Starr identified as a possible site for Beard’s remains or other evidence.
The request included records involving a possible search, excavation or dig.
I also requested communications between the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers and other law enforcement agencies.
Importantly, the request did not seek secret grand jury testimony, deliberations, voting records or juror identities.
Brazoria County confirms responsive records exist
The District Attorney’s Office confirmed it holds records that respond to the request.
However, prosecutors want to withhold those records in their entirety.
In its August 25 letter to the Texas Attorney General, the DA’s Office cited the law-enforcement exception under Section 552.108 of the Texas Government Code.
Prosecutors argue that Beard’s murder investigation remains open because her body has never been recovered.
They contend releasing the requested records could interfere with that continuing investigation.
Filing reveals investigation of possible additional suspects
The filing provides an important glimpse into what happened during the renewed investigation.
Prosecutors wrote that their office had recently investigated “other possible actors/defendants” in Beard’s murder.
According to the filing, investigators presented those findings to a Brazoria County grand jury.
The DA’s Office said the grand jury took no action because investigators did not develop other credible suspects.
That disclosure provides new information about the scope of the 2026 investigation.
It shows investigators did more than simply review an old case file. They examined whether other people may have played a role in Beard’s murder and brought those findings before a grand jury.
Paul Taylor was convicted, but Becky remains missing
John Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in 1995 to murdering Beard.
Beard was 22 when she disappeared in March 1986.
Her body has never been recovered.
The DA’s filing cites that fact as one reason the murder investigation remains open. Prosecutors argue law enforcement must remain able to investigate credible new leads if they emerge.
Prosecutors also claim attorney work-product protection
The District Attorney’s Office makes another argument for withholding the records.
Prosecutors say the requested investigative notes and materials contain attorney work product.
According to the filing, a DA investigator prepared the records while working at the direction of an appointed special prosecutor.
The DA argues the documents contain investigative strategy, mental impressions and legal reasoning connected to potential criminal litigation.
For those reasons, prosecutors asked the Attorney General to allow them to withhold all of the responsive records.
The Attorney General will decide
The August 25 filing is not a final ruling on my records request.
It is Brazoria County’s argument for why the records should remain confidential.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office will now review the arguments and determine whether state law allows Brazoria County to withhold the requested material.
The decision could allow the county to withhold the records, require the release of some information, or require additional responsive material to be released.
I will continue following the records dispute and the investigation into what happened to Rebecca Beard.
The public records request and Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office filing to the Texas Attorney General are attached below.
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Paul Taylor’s former Clute residence, where investigators later focused much of the Rebecca Beard investigation as witness statements and the case timeline evolved over time.
Rebecca Beard Part 3: How Witness Statements Changed During the Investigation
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
As I continued reviewing the original investigative file in the Rebecca Beard case, one pattern became impossible to ignore.
The earliest reports tell a very different story than the theory prosecutors ultimately presented years later.
During the first weeks of the investigation, detectives documented witnesses who said they did not know Paul Taylor or had never heard Becky mention him. At the same time, investigators pursued reports that Becky was seen after leaving the Excalibur Club, including at a Surfside beach party and an after-party.
Months later, investigators had assembled a very different timeline.
The records show how that evolution occurred.
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Early Witnesses Did Not Connect Becky to Paul Taylor
A March 1986 police report documents early witness interviews in the Rebecca Beard investigation. Several witnesses told detectives they did not know Paul Taylor or had never heard Becky mention him, reflecting one of the investigation’s earliest lines of inquiry.
One of the strongest themes in the March 1986 reports is how often investigators documented witnesses saying they had no connection between Becky Beard and Paul Taylor.
Among those interviewed were:
Beaver Aplin, who investigators noted never mentioned Paul Taylor, and Taylor had never mentioned Becky.
Eric Timaeus, Becky’s friend, who said he did not know Paul Taylor and never recalled Becky mentioning his name.
Misty Wiley, who said she had never heard of Paul Taylor and Becky never mentioned him.
Linda Barnes (identified in some records as Linda Limke), who said she had never heard Becky mention Paul Taylor.
Mrs. Buchanan, who also said she did not know Taylor.
At this point in the investigation, detectives had not yet developed the theory that Paul Taylor was the last person with Becky.
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Several Witnesses Reported Becky Alive After Leaving Excalibur
The earliest reports also show investigators pursuing multiple leads suggesting Becky continued socializing after leaving the Excalibur Club in Freeport.
Paula’s Surfside Account
One witness, Paula, told investigators she saw Becky at a Surfside beach party during the morning hours after she disappeared.
That account suggested Becky may have left the club and traveled elsewhere.
Jack Hamilton’s Statement
An April 28, 1986 police report documents interviews with Jack Hamilton and dancer Mel Scroggins. Both described seeing Becky Beard after she left the Excalibur Club, adding to the early investigative timeline detectives were working to reconstruct.
On April 28, 1986, Jack Hamilton told investigators he saw Becky outside the Excalibur Club.
Hamilton said:
Becky appeared happy. She was not intoxicated. The two greeted each other and hugged. He saw an unidentified white male walk out beside Becky who appeared to be with her. He never saw Becky get into a vehicle.
Importantly, Hamilton did not identify the man as Paul Taylor.
Hamilton also told investigators he knew Matt Cone, a longtime friend.
Dancer Reported Seeing Becky at an After-Party
A March 13, 1986 police report documents dancer Mel Scroggins’ statement that he saw Becky Beard at the Excalibur Club and later at an after-party around 1:00 a.m. The report also notes Beaver Aplin contacted investigators about posting a reward.
Another witness, Mel Scroggins, also described seeing Becky after she left Excalibur.
Scroggins told investigators he saw Becky around 12:30 a.m. at Excalibur before performing his dance routine.
He then reported seeing Becky again around 1:00 a.m. at an after-party.
According to Scroggins, Becky was accompanied by:
a white male, approximately 5’11” to 6’0”, slim build, no glasses, associated with a possible silver or gold Chevrolet.
Again, the man was not identified as Paul Taylor.
Scroggins said he never saw Becky after that.
When viewed together, these reports show detectives were actively investigating the possibility that Becky continued on to other locations after leaving Excalibur.
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John Cone’s Statement Became a Turning Point
Police records show John Cone told investigators that Paul Taylor admitted Becky Beard died at his home. Cone also stated he personally entered the house, observed the mattress and carpet were missing, and reported those observations to Sheriff Joe King while offering a key to the residence.
Another major development came from John Cone.
Cone told investigators Paul Taylor admitted Becky died inside his Clute home after a gun discharged during an encounter.
However, Cone’s statement did not stop with the alleged confession.
He told investigators he personally:
entered Taylor’s home, observed the mattress missing, observed the carpet missing, reported those observations to Sheriff Joe King, and even offered the sheriff a key to the residence.
Those observations were based on what Cone said he personally witnessed, not simply what Taylor allegedly told him.
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Matt Cone Appears to Corroborate Parts of the Story
April 16, 1986 police records include statements from Tina and Excalibur Club manager Willie Garcia. The documents also reference Matt Cone, John Cone’s brother, whose name appears multiple times in the investigation as detectives continued interviewing witnesses and following leads.
The records also repeatedly reference Matt Cone.
John Cone told investigators he discussed the situation with his brother, Matt Cone, and Corky Parker before going to Taylor’s house.
Jack Hamilton also identified Matt Cone as someone he knew.
If Matt Cone independently observed the missing mattress and carpet, that would provide additional corroboration of John’s observations.
Whether Matt entered the home himself or relied on John’s account remains an important question raised by the records.
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Beaver Aplin Continued Contacting Investigators
Police records show Beaver Aplin remained in regular contact with investigators after Rebecca Beard disappeared. The reports document Aplin requesting case updates, asking about posting a reward, and continuing to communicate with detectives as the investigation progressed.
Another interesting pattern involves Beaver Aplin.
The investigative file documents that:
Beaver was interviewed during the early stages of the case. Investigators noted he did not connect Becky to Paul Taylor. He later left messages for investigators. Months later, he again contacted police requesting an update on Becky’s case.
Those records do not suggest wrongdoing.
However, they do show Beaver remained engaged with investigators long after Becky disappeared.
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The Investigation Evolved
As the investigation continued, the documentary record began shifting.
Later reports increasingly connected Becky to Paul Taylor.
Among them were statements from:
Willie Garcia, Kevin King, John Cone, and other witnesses who later appeared on the prosecution’s witness list.
That witness list outlined how prosecutors intended to build their case, including testimony that Becky left with Taylor, statements that Taylor admitted killing her, and witnesses describing evidence allegedly observed inside Taylor’s home.
That later theory differs considerably from many of the earliest reports documenting possible Surfside sightings, after-party sightings, and witnesses who initially said they did not know Paul Taylor.
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Questions That Remain
Reading these records chronologically reveals an investigation that changed significantly over time.
The documents show detectives initially pursued multiple leads, including reports that Becky was seen after leaving Excalibur and accounts from witnesses who did not connect her to Paul Taylor.
As additional interviews were conducted, investigators documented statements that increasingly focused on Taylor and ultimately formed the basis of the prosecution’s case.
The records do not fully explain how every conflicting witness account was evaluated before investigators settled on the final timeline presented in court.
Nearly four decades later, those documents continue to provide important insight into how the Rebecca Beard investigation developed—and why reviewing the original records remains essential.
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Read More in This Series
Part 1: Rebecca Beard: John Cone’s Confession and the Early Investigation
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The former Clute home where Paul Taylor lived became a focus of later investigative records after John Cone reported that Taylor allegedly confessed to killing Rebecca Beard. The article examines why available records do not document an immediate crime scene search or forensic processing of the property following that report.
Rebecca Beard Case: Why Wasn’t Paul Taylor’s Home Investigated After John Cone’s Report?
Reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
Police records raise new questions
Nearly 40 years after Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared, police records raise a question that remains unanswered.
If Sheriff Joe King received details of an alleged confession from John Cone shortly after Becky vanished, why don’t the records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose document an immediate search or forensic examination of Paul Taylor’s home?
The question stands out because later investigative summaries describe a series of events that, if accurate, pointed investigators toward Taylor’s residence within days of Becky’s disappearance.
John Cone said Taylor admitted killing Becky
This investigative synopsis states that John Cone reported an alleged confession by Paul Taylor to Sheriff Joe King shortly after Rebecca Beard disappeared. According to the document, Cone asked King to keep both the information and his identity confidential. The synopsis also states King later advised Freeport Police that Taylor should be investigated, raising questions about what investigative steps followed.
According to a later investigative synopsis, John Cone told investigators that Paul Taylor admitted Becky died inside his Clute home.
Cone’s statement says Taylor claimed he picked Becky up after she left a club, took her to his residence, and that she died after a gun discharged during a struggle.
Taylor allegedly told Cone he cleaned the residence, removed the bed and carpet because they contained blood, and discarded them in dumpsters.
Cone also said he entered Taylor’s home himself and noticed the bed and carpet were gone.
According to the records, Cone then contacted Brazoria County Sheriff Joe King and reported what Taylor allegedly told him.
Cone reportedly offered Sheriff Joe King a key
This investigative document summarizes John Cone’s account, including his claim that Paul Taylor allegedly confessed to killing Rebecca Beard. According to the document, Cone said he entered Taylor’s home, noticed the bed and carpet were missing, and later offered Sheriff Joe King a key to the residence. The document raises questions about what investigative steps followed after that information reached law enforcement.
One detail stands out in Cone’s statement.
Cone said he offered Sheriff Joe King a key to Taylor’s residence.
He also asked the sheriff to keep both the conversation and his identity confidential.
The investigative synopsis later states that King agreed to keep the information confidential.
According to that same synopsis, Sheriff King informed Freeport Police Chief Charles Bankston on March 14, 1986, that Paul Taylor needed to be investigated but did not relate the details Cone had provided.
Taylor was interviewed that day. The synopsis states investigators learned only that Taylor knew Becky.
Where is the documented crime scene investigation?
The records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose do not document that investigators immediately searched Paul Taylor’s residence or processed it as a possible crime scene.
The records also do not document officers collecting physical evidence, photographing the interior, looking for blood evidence, seizing the reportedly missing bed or carpet, or tracing the dumpsters where Taylor allegedly said he discarded evidence.
Those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation. The records reviewed for this report do not document that investigators immediately completed those investigative steps after John Cone reported what Taylor allegedly told him.
Those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation. The records reviewed for this report do not document that investigators immediately completed those investigative steps after John Cone reported what Taylor allegedly told him.
Another report raised similar concerns
The records contain another development one month later.
An April 16, 1986 report states the manager of Excaliber Club told investigators about another conversation involving Taylor.
According to the report, another witness claimed Taylor said he picked up a woman from the club, took her home, shot her, buried her body, cut up the mattress and discarded it in dumpsters.
The same report states Matt Cone checked Taylor’s residence and found the bed no longer had a mattress. Cotton stuffing reportedly remained on the floor.
Even then, the records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose do not document that officers immediately processed the residence as a homicide scene.
Another inconsistency emerges
These records compare early police reports, a later investigative summary, and Rebecca Beard’s personal planner. One report states Beaver (Arch) Aplin last saw Rebecca on February 14, while a later investigative summary lists him among witnesses who reportedly saw her at Excalibur on the night she disappeared. The differing timelines raise questions about how investigators reconciled those statements during the investigation.
While reviewing the early investigation, another issue surfaced.
Police reports appear to contain conflicting information about Beaver (Arch) Aplin’s timeline.
One report says Aplin told investigators he had not seen Becky since February 14, 1986.
A later investigative report identifies Aplin as one of several people reportedly present at Excaliber on the night Becky disappeared.
That apparent inconsistency raises another question.
Did investigators ever reconcile those differing accounts?
That question will be examined in Part 2 of this series.
Questions that remain
The records reviewed for this article leave several unanswered questions:
Why wasn’t Taylor’s residence immediately documented as a potential crime scene after John Cone reported an alleged confession? Did Sheriff Joe King ever use the key Cone reportedly offered? Were investigators ever able to locate the missing bed, carpet or mattress? If those items were never recovered, how much potential evidence may have been lost?
Nearly four decades later, those questions remain central to understanding the early investigation into Rebecca Beard’s disappearance.
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Paul Taylor Jr. booking photo from the investigation into the 1986 disappearance and murder of Rebecca Beard. His recent prison messages are compared with statements discussed during a meeting with Rebecca Beard’s family regarding legal representation.
Rebecca Beard Family Questions Statements About Paul Taylor and Legal Representation
An autographed 1985 photo of Rebecca Beard inscribed, “To John, Love Always, Becky Beard.” The image is included in the Beard family’s article examining conflicting accounts about Paul Taylor Jr. and legal representation.
The family of Rebecca Beard says newly reviewed prison messages from Paul Taylor raise questions about statements made during a meeting with Brazoria County officials regarding legal representation and the Texas Innocence Project.
According to Rebecca Beard’s sister, Carol Mize, family members met with officials to discuss developments in the decades-old murder case. During that meeting, participants discussed whether Taylor had been offered legal representation.
Carol Mize Says Officials Claimed Paul Taylor Declined Legal Representation
According to Carol Mize, participants at the meeting stated that Paul Taylor had been offered legal representation but declined the offer.
That statement prompted questions from the Beard family after reviewing messages Taylor later sent from prison.
Paul Taylor’s Messages Tell a Different Story
Screenshots of prison messages sent by Paul Taylor Jr. that are compared with statements discussed during a meeting with Rebecca Beard’s family regarding legal representation and the Texas Innocence Project.
In a message provided to the Beard family, Taylor wrote:
“I HAVE NO ATTORNEY OR FUNDS!”
He also wrote:
“NO ONE HAS EVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT RIGHTS, HELP, OR TEXAS INNOCENT PROJECT!!”
Taylor added that he was unaware of a sealed case document, writing:
“DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CASE SEALED…”
In a more recent message to Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, Taylor wrote:
“I MEAN NO DISRESPECT TO YOU and (REDACTED) ! BUT I’LL GIVE A STATEMENT WHEN THIS IS OVER!!”
Conflicting Accounts Raise New Questions
Carol Mize says officials stated Paul Taylor declined legal representation that had been offered to him. Taylor’s prison messages later presented a different account, raising new questions in the Rebecca Beard case.
According to Carol Mize, officials stated during the meeting that Paul Taylor declined legal representation that had been offered to him.
Taylor’s own written messages present a different account. In those messages, he states that he has no attorney, no funds, and was never contacted about rights, legal help, or the Texas Innocence Project.
At this time, Tammy Rose has not independently verified which account is accurate. The article reflects statements made during the meeting, as described by Carol Mize, alongside Taylor’s own written messages.
Editor’s Note
This article is based on statements made during a meeting attended by Rebecca Beard’s family, as described by Carol Mize, and on messages attributed to Paul Taylor. The statements represent differing accounts and are presented to accurately reflect what each party said.
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Tammy Rose shares the personal journey that inspired her lifelong commitment to fighting for victims.
Why I Fight So Hard for Victims: The Story I’ve Never Shared
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
Why I’m Sharing This Now
People often ask why I spend so much time filing public records requests, interviewing grieving families, and refusing to give up on cold cases.
The answer isn’t found in a newsroom.
It’s found in one of the most painful chapters of my own life.
Long before I became an investigative reporter, I became a victim.
For years, I kept this story private because of the shame, embarrassment, and fear that followed.
Today, I’m sharing it because I hope it helps others understand why I fight so hard for victims.
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I Didn’t Want to Report the Crime
The person who sexually assaulted me wasn’t a stranger.
He was someone my family knew and trusted.
After it happened, I didn’t want to report the crime.
I was embarrassed.
I was ashamed.
Like many victims, I blamed myself.
I wanted to pretend it had never happened.
It was my former husband who convinced me to go to law enforcement. He told me that if I didn’t report the crime, he would.
Looking back, I’m grateful he encouraged me to speak up.
At the time, it felt impossible.
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The Trial Changed My Family Forever
Going through the criminal justice system was one of the hardest experiences of my life.
During the trial, I learned the defendant had previously been convicted in another sexual assault case involving a child under the age of 14 and had served a much shorter sentence.
That realization was heartbreaking.
The case also divided my family.
One of the most painful moments was watching my own sister testify for the defense.
My father blamed me for what had happened.
Losing the support of people I loved was devastating.
The verdict ended the criminal case.
It did not end the pain.
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The Papers I Never Threw Away
Court records and victim notification letters I kept for years—documents that reminded me the criminal case ended, but the journey as a victim did not.
Recently, I opened a folder I hadn’t looked at in years.
Inside were Wisconsin court records, sentencing documents, and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections victim notification letter informing me the offender would one day be released from prison.
Holding those papers again reminded me that victims often carry a case long after the courtroom is empty.
The documents aren’t just legal records.
For me, they represent years of healing.
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Years Later, I Had to Defend My Truth Again
Courthouse during the Jodi Arias sentencing retrial, where my reporting ultimately led to State Bar proceedings that resulted in my deposition years after my own criminal case had ended.
Years after my criminal case ended, I was covering the Jodi Arias sentencing retrial as a reporter.
During my reporting, I uncovered information that led me to file a complaint with the State Bar of Arizona regarding prosecutor Juan Martinez.
As part of that disciplinary process, I was deposed.
During that process, records from my own criminal case became part of the deposition and were made public. As a victim, it was devastating to see deeply personal parts of my past become public record years after I believed I had finally moved forward.
I never imagined my own past would become part of those proceedings.
During the deposition, my background was examined, including the sexual assault case from years earlier. My credibility was challenged, and I felt as though I was once again defending one of the most painful experiences of my life.
For years, I had been afraid to speak up.
Then something changed.
I remember saying, “The judge and jury believed me. If you disagree with that, take it up with them.”
It was the first time in a long time that I truly stood up for myself.
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Why I Fight So Hard for Victims
Official Texas DPS Missing Persons Bulletin for Rebecca Jean Beard, documenting her disappearance before Paul Taylor Jr. later pleaded guilty in the case despite her remains never being recovered.
Every records request I file…
Each family I interview…
No cold case is just another story.
Every difficult question I ask…
Is driven by one purpose: finding the truth.
I know what it feels like to wonder if anyone will believe you.
I’ve experienced losing relationships because I told the truth.
Years later, my credibility was questioned over events from my past.
Those experiences shaped the reporter I am today.
Victims deserve compassion.
Families deserve answers.
The truth deserves to be pursued—even when it’s uncomfortable.
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To Every Victim Reading This
Terri Denise McDaniels was murdered in Pearland, Texas, on October 31, 1986. Her homicide remains unsolved. Every unsolved case represents a family still waiting for answers and justice.
Maybe you’ve been afraid to report a crime.
Perhaps someone blamed you for something that wasn’t your fault.
Or maybe you’ve wondered whether anyone would believe you.
You are not alone.
Sharing this story isn’t about reliving the past.
It’s about explaining why I continue fighting for victims every single day.
I can’t change what happened to me.
But I can make sure my experiences help someone else find the courage to speak.
As long as I have a voice, I’ll keep fighting for those still searching for justice.
That’s why I fight so hard for victims.
Continue Reading
If you’d like to learn more about trauma, healing, and the importance of seeking justice for victims, you may also find these resources helpful.
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Why I Released the 2002 Paul Taylor Jr. Confession
As an investigative reporter, I often have to make difficult decisions.
One of the hardest was deciding whether to release the 2002 family mediation recording involving Paul Taylor Jr. and Rebecca Beard’s family.
When I first obtained an exclusive copy of the recording from Rebecca Beard’s family, I wasn’t sure if I would ever make it public.
For months, I listened to the recording while reviewing court records, investigative documents, and interviewing Rebecca’s family. The more I reported on the case, the more I believed the recording added important context to an investigation that still raises questions nearly four decades later.
Rather than relying on summaries or secondhand accounts, I wanted people to hear Paul Taylor Jr.’s own words for themselves.
This article isn’t about telling anyone what to believe.
It’s about explaining why I decided to release the recording and why I believe it is an important part of my ongoing investigation.
“Rather than relying on summaries or secondhand accounts, I wanted people to hear Paul Taylor Jr.’s own words and decide for themselves.”
Watch the Exclusive 2002 Paul Taylor Jr. Confession
The full 30-minute recording is embedded below. I encourage you to listen to it in its entirety before drawing your own conclusions.
Why the recording stood out
As I compared the mediation recording with other records I reviewed during my investigation, several things caught my attention.
One involves the events after Rebecca Beard disappeared.
During the mediation, Paul Taylor Jr. appears unable to remember getting his vehicle stuck in a ditch near his home or the tow truck driver who reportedly helped pull him out. Yet in other parts of the recording, he recalls details surrounding the case.
That difference raised questions for me.
Another involves the weapon.
While reviewing investigative records, I came across a sealed document containing entries that reference a Remington shotgun and what appears to be human remains.
Those entries stood out because they raise questions when compared with portions of the mediation recording.
I encourage viewers to listen to the recording, review the available information, and draw their own conclusions.
Why I chose to publish it
Investigative reporting isn’t about deciding a case.
It’s about asking questions, reviewing records, interviewing the people closest to the investigation, and presenting information as fairly and accurately as possible.
Over the past several months, I’ve interviewed Rebecca Beard’s family, reviewed numerous court records and investigative documents, and continued asking questions about a case that still has many unanswered ones.
After months of reporting, I believed it was time to let the public hear this recording in its entirety.
This article serves as an introduction to that recording.
I encourage you to listen to the complete mediation audio in context and compare what is said with the records discussed throughout my investigation.
Sometimes the biggest questions aren’t about what someone remembers.
They’re about what they don’t.
Thank you for taking the time to follow my reporting.
Related Rebecca Beard Coverage
Continue following my investigation with these related reports:
This investigation took months of research, interviews, reviewing court records, and comparing documents with the 2002 mediation recording. These are some of the tools I use while reporting stories like this.
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Newly obtained prison messages from Paul Taylor Jr. discuss the Rebecca Beard investigation, prison life and his perspective decades after the case.
Nearly four decades after Rebecca Beard disappeared, new prison messages from convicted killer Paul Taylor Jr. are offering another glimpse into how he views the investigation today.
The messages, shared with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose by a longtime correspondent who asked to remain anonymous, cover much more than the Rebecca Beard case. Taylor discusses prison life, his health, his faith, investigators, and why he believes renewed attention is being focused on his case.
While many of his statements reflect his personal opinions and allegations, they provide insight into his current mindset as interest in the Rebecca Beard investigation continues.
Taylor questions renewed interest in the Rebecca Beard case
In several messages, Taylor repeatedly asks why people are suddenly interested in his case after so many years.
He questions why the victim’s family has continued speaking publicly and wonders what new information investigators may have uncovered.
Taylor also asks whether new evidence has surfaced and repeatedly requests updates from outside prison.
His questions come as the Rebecca Beard investigation has received renewed attention following exclusive interviews, court records, and additional reporting into the 1986 disappearance.
Paul Taylor Jr. comments on investigators
Throughout the messages, Taylor criticizes investigators and the criminal justice system.
He claims authorities mishandled evidence and writes that people should question official accounts of the investigation.
These statements represent Taylor’s personal opinions and have not been independently verified.
Despite his criticism, Taylor continues asking for information about developments in the case.
Faith remains a central theme
Religion appears throughout nearly every message.
Taylor writes about reading the Bible each morning, praying daily, and believing God has guided him throughout his years in prison.
He frequently ends his messages with blessings and encourages others to pray.
The repeated references suggest his Christian faith continues to play a significant role in his daily life behind bars.
Life inside a Texas prison
The letters also describe Taylor’s daily routine inside prison.
He discusses prison conditions, medical treatment following the removal of basal cell carcinoma, communication through the Securus messaging system, and the challenges of staying connected with the outside world.
Taylor says receiving letters helps him remain informed about events beyond prison walls.
Taylor notices new reporting
One of the more interesting portions of the correspondence comes when Taylor references recent reporting.
He asks whether Tammy Rose is writing articles and later questions why her name briefly appeared in his contact list before disappearing.
The messages suggest Taylor is aware that new reporting and renewed public interest continue surrounding the Rebecca Beard investigation.
Investigation continues
Rebecca Beard disappeared in 1986 and her body has never been found.
Although Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in connection with her death, questions remain about where Rebecca’s remains may be located.
Investigators have conducted multiple searches over the years, while Rebecca’s family continues asking authorities to pursue additional leads.
The newly shared prison messages do not establish new evidence in the case. Instead, they provide additional insight into Taylor’s thoughts as the investigation continues decades later.
Editor’s Note: The prison messages contain Taylor’s personal opinions and allegations regarding investigators and the criminal justice system. Those statements have not been independently verified and are presented to accurately reflect the contents of the correspondence.
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Just days after I published previously released messages from Paul Taylor Jr., another communication arrived in the recipient’s inbox.
The recipient asked to remain anonymous because of concerns about unwanted attention in Brazoria County. I reviewed the original message before publishing this report and agreed to protect the recipient’s identity.
“I’m Hoping This One Will Make You Dig Deep Again”
The latest message does not contain a confession or new details about Rebecca Beard’s disappearance. Instead, Taylor continues using spiritual language while suggesting there is more he cannot discuss.
Among the statements included in the email:
“There is so much I cannot tell you.”
“The Holy Spirit is doing unbelievable things.”
“I’m hoping this one will make you dig deep again??”
Taylor also writes that he is “going through the fire” before telling the recipient to “enjoy the ride.”
A Continuing Pattern
This message follows other communications I previously reported on involving Taylor.
While the email does not offer new evidence in the Rebecca Beard investigation, it continues a pattern of messages in which Taylor hints at information without providing specific facts.
To protect the recipient’s privacy, I redacted identifying information from the published screenshots at the recipient’s request.
Related Coverage: Read my previous reporting on the Rebecca Beard investigation and Paul Taylor Jr.’s earlier communications.
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Rebecca Beard Investigation: New Documents and Paul Taylor Jr.’s Interview Raise Unanswered Questions
Nearly 40 years after 22-year-old Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared after leaving a Freeport nightclub with Paul Taylor Jr., questions about the case remain.
Paul Taylor Jr. later pleaded guilty, but Becky’s body has never been officially recovered.
Now, Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has reviewed court records, police photographs and a recorded interview between Taylor and Becky’s mother, Linda Barnes. Together, those records raise new questions about the evidence, the murder weapon and other details of the Rebecca Beard investigation.
A signed 1985 promotional photograph of Rebecca “Becky” Beard addressed “To John.” The image is among personal items reviewed during Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose’s ongoing Rebecca Beard investigation.
Linda Barnes Refused to Let the Case Go Cold
Rebecca disappeared after leaving the Excalibur nightclub with Paul Taylor Jr. in March 1986.
For years, Becky’s mother, Linda Barnes, refused to give up. She searched for answers, gathered records and pushed investigators to keep working the case.
Her persistence paid off. A Brazoria County grand jury indicted Paul Taylor Jr. in 1994—eight years after Becky’s disappearance.
Taylor later pleaded guilty, but Becky’s body has never been officially recovered.
Taylor Describes the Night Becky Disappeared
In a recorded interview with Linda Barnes, Taylor claimed Becky voluntarily left the nightclub with him and went to his home.
He said they argued after he failed to obtain cocaine.
Taylor claimed he tried to scare Becky with a firearm before shooting her.
He told Barnes he wrapped Becky in orange sheets secured with duct tape before disposing of her body.
He also claimed he threw the weapon into a bayou. However, a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office evidence sheet reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose lists a Remington Model 1100 shotgun and a brown gun case as evidence in the case.
Because Taylor described the firearm only as “the weapon” during the interview, the apparent difference between his account and the evidence sheet raises additional questions.
A Shotgun Appears on the Evidence List
Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office evidence sheet listing a Remington Model 1100 shotgun in the Rebecca Beard investigation.Handwritten court notes from Paul Taylor Jr.’s prosecution appear to reference additional time to identify possible remains in the Rebecca Beard investigation.
One document reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose is a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office evidence sheet.
Among the listed evidence is a Remington Model 1100 shotgun and a brown gun case.
During his interview with Barnes, Taylor never identified the firearm by type. Instead, he repeatedly referred only to “the weapon.”
The records reviewed do not explain when the shotgun was recovered, where it was recovered or whether it was ultimately identified as the murder weapon.
Police Photographs Show Two Holes in the Bedroom Wall
A police crime scene photograph documents two holes in a bedroom wall inside Paul Taylor Jr.’s home. During his recorded interview with Linda Barnes, Taylor described firing a single fatal shot. The records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose do not explain the presence of the second hole.
Crime scene photographs reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose document two holes in a bedroom wall inside Taylor’s home.
During the interview, Taylor described firing a single fatal shot.
The available records reviewed do not explain whether investigators determined how the two holes were created or whether either hole was connected to the homicide.
The records also do not explain whether ballistic testing linked the recovered shotgun to the wall damage.
The Tow Truck Driver Taylor Could Not Remember
One of the most revealing exchanges involves a tow truck driver.
Barnes confronted Taylor with information that a tow truck operator reportedly pulled his vehicle from a ditch after Becky’s disappearance.
Taylor repeatedly responded that he did not remember the incident.
Barnes described details including a neighbor who reportedly witnessed the vehicle in the ditch and the driver’s recollection of the call.
The conversation highlights a pattern throughout the interview. Taylor remembered specific details such as orange sheets, duct tape and burying Becky, yet repeatedly claimed he could not remember other significant events from that same period.
Court Notes Reference Possible Remains
Handwritten court notes reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose appear to show prosecutors requested additional time to determine whether recovered remains belonged to Rebecca Beard.
The handwriting is difficult to read in places, but the notes appear to reference delaying proceedings while investigators sought positive identification of possible remains.
The records reviewed do not explain what became of those reported remains or whether they were ultimately determined to belong to someone else.
A Confidential Court Record
A confidential pre-sentence investigation file prepared before Paul Taylor Jr.‘s sentencing. The court record was reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose as part of the ongoing Rebecca Beard investigation and provides additional context to the case decades after Becky’s disappearance.
Also among the records is a pre-sentence investigation stamped:
“Confidential Judicial Document — Not Open to Public Inspection.”
The document was prepared before Taylor’s sentencing and demonstrates that confidential records existed during the criminal proceedings.
Questions That Still Remain
The records reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose answer some questions but leave many others unresolved.
Among them:
When was the Remington Model 1100 shotgun recovered? Was it ever identified as the murder weapon? Were the two holes in the bedroom wall forensically examined? What became of the possible remains referenced in court notes? Why do some details in Taylor’s interview differ from other investigative records?
Nearly four decades after Rebecca Beard disappeared, Linda Barnes’ determination continues to inspire efforts to better understand what happened to her daughter.
Editor’s Note
This report is based on court records, law enforcement documents, police photographs and a recorded interview reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose. Where records are incomplete or unclear, this article presents unanswered questions rather than conclusions.
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