26-year-old Port Salerno woman killed in Central Florida home invasion
October 5th, 2009 by Post StaffBy Allison Ross
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Less than 24 hours after her daughter was shot and killed, a Port Salerno mother is calling media across the state pleading for anyone to help find the murderer.
“She was a beautiful girl,” Belinda Strachan said, her voice deep with held-back tears. “I want to get her picture out there so people will see her and not forget, and I want the people who did this to her to get caught.”
Tamiqa Taylor
Strachan’s daughter, 26-year-old Tamiqa Taylor, was killed shortly after midnight Saturday during what was an apparent drug-related dispute in Poinciana, south of Orlando.
According to The Tampa Tribune, five or six men forced their way into a home, looking for 29-year-old Wilkins Merlan, who is Taylor’s boyfriend.
Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the men demanded $5,000 from Merlan and said he’d have to work for them if he wanted to sell drugs.
Merilan was shot and tortured, Strachan said, not elaborating. He was in serious condition Sunday night.
Taylor and another person in the home were shot and killed. Merlan’s 3-year-old daughter was found unharmed under Taylor’s body.
“She’s my oldest baby,” said Strachan of her daughter. “All these people love her. People from all over have been calling for her since they heard the news.”
Strachan said her daughter moved up north from the Treasure Coast about six weeks ago in hopes of better job opportunities. She was living with her aunt and uncle, working at a telemarketing firm, and had only recently begun dating Merlan, Strachan said.
“This is so senseless. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Strachan said. She added that Taylor had begun taking classes online and wanted to “do something where she could work with kids.”
Taylor attended South Fork High School in Stuart before dropping out and earning her GED. She attended Jupiter Church of God with her family, Strachan said.
Her mother will bring her body back to Martin County after an autopsy is performed. Funeral services have yet to be determined.
“I’m just waiting to speak to a sergeant right now,” Strachan said. “I’m waiting to find answers. I want to find the people who murdered my daughter.”
The Associated Press and The Tampa Tribune contributed to this story.
Tags: Tamiqa Taylor
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October 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
This is senseless, she didn’t deserve this and I hope the people involved are punished to the full extent of the law! May your families know the heartache and pain that you’ve caused to these two families as you are locked away for the rest of your lives. How is it that the one that survives is the cause of this tragedy??? I hope that he at least has the decency to tell the authorities everything he knows and whomever he suspects is involved and not abide by that stupid “No snitching” crap! Because of him and his lifestyle two people are dead. To the animals responsible: you won’t be so tough once those steel/iron doors close and you’re in there with rapists and the other murderers.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I hope they find the people responsible for this and to SHESAHO ‘GET A LIFE’ i swear lames now a days
October 7th, 2009 at 1:29 am
VERY Well put, Dominique!! I am apaulled at how cowardly and insensitive that person is. That comment was absolutely unnecessary. The bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”………
-Tiffany Thorne
(Family Friend)
October 7th, 2009 at 5:40 am
How rediculous of you to even gesture something like this at a time as such. You are as simple as they come. Maybe you never been through what this fam is going through or
maybe you’re just insensitive, certainly you need prayer or maybe just a lil advice, and that is something you should have been taught a long time ago. “If you dont have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut”
October 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am
THIS IS EXTREMELY SAD.. MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HER FAMILY AND ANYONE THAT KNEW HER.. SHE WAS MY COUSIN AND I NEVER EVEN KNEW HER.. BUT I AM VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS..
October 10th, 2009 at 10:26 am
To the comment from Shesaho (shes-a-ho)…How dare you, you pig! You obviously have no respect for yourself or anyone else. To write such a hateful, hurtful, disrepectful comment at such a horrific time…you should be ashamed of yourself and what would your mother think of your distastefulness? Or maybe that’s where you learned it from?? The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, did it? You’re probably too ingnorant to even know what that means…ask someone!
I knew Tamiqa. She was a very kind, extremly hilarious, beautiful young lady. I am very proud to have had the pleasure of knowing and spending time with her.
My mother always told her kids, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, do say anything at all.” You need to take this advise and keep your nasty mouth shut.
And good for you Dominique for standing up for your sister who unfortunately can’t do so for herself anymore. I love you and GOD BLESS YOU,YOUR MOMMY, SISTERS AND FAMILY! I LOVE YOU
Regards,
Kim Williams
Friend to the Taylor/Strachan families
October 12th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Mrs.Belinda and family. Its been a while hasn’t it? I would like to send my sympathy to you and your family during these hard times.Your daughtet Tamiqa was the most beautiful both inside and out that I’ve evet met.1o years ago when we met in Vero through Tish no one in this world could tell me that she wouldn’t be my wife one day. If only I could have kept up with her! Lol.This just seems unreal to me!How could someone do this? I’ve cried and asked God why but at the end of the day only he knows.May your hearts be healed and your spirits and burdens be lifted.If there’s anything I can help with don’t hesitate to call, (772)501_
October 12th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
It’s senseles and i do hope if her boyfriend is still living remember’s who came after him, he has to know who was after him once dealing, but the good lord don’t sleep u take a life and u better believe urs will be taken too. Tamiqa, was innocent and did not deserve this and i will be praying for her captures..
October 14th, 2009 at 3:17 am
I just want to say God bless and wacth over tamika family she was a very friendly,loving person and i been knowing her for 6yrs and i always tried my best to keep in contact with her. No matter what ppl do in life there is always good in everyone ONE thing fa sho only God can judge her i pray that she rest in peace and she continue to smile while in heaven.
June 21st, 2010 at 1:07 pm
ms. belinda i was in the program with you i just want you to know im still praying for you and your family i love you take care