The trial of Jarvis Dewayne Taylor concluded on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Ouachita Parish Courthouse. Taylor, 25, was charged with Second-Degree Murder in connection with the death of Ebony Lewis, a 23-year-old woman, on July 7-8, 2022. After less than thirty minutes of deliberation, a jury of twelve found Taylor guilty as charged.
The case stems from an incident that occurred in Monroe, Louisiana. According to court documents, on July 8, 2022, Taylor confessed to family members that he had fatally stabbed Ebony Lewis and expressed intentions of ending his own life. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office later discovered Lewis’ body in her apartment on Woodale Drive.
Taylor was apprehended on the Lea Joyner (Louisville) Bridge by officers from the Monroe Police Department. At the time of his arrest, Taylor was reportedly threatening to jump to his death and again confessed to killing Lewis. Investigators noted that blood was present on Taylor’s clothing, shoes, and hands, and it was also found on the railing of the bridge. The evidence presented during the trial included Taylor’s confessions and physical evidence linking him to the crime scene.
The Honorable Wendell Manning presided over the trial. The prosecution was led by First Assistant District Attorney Holly Chambers Jones and Assistant District Attorney Kalee Moore, while Taylor was represented by defense attorney Robert Noel.
Under Louisiana law, a conviction for Second-Degree Murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The court will schedule a sentencing hearing, during which members of the victim’s family will have the opportunity to provide impact statements.
