Found Deceased KY - Raphael “Ray” Taliaferro, 79, radio journalist, Paducah, 10 Nov 2018

[Lilibet]

RSBM

Taliaferro's son said the couple's marriage license was found in the rental car his father parked outside the bank. The two were married in June.

Ronn Owens recalls fond memories of former KGO talk radio host Ray Taliaferro

I'm trying to the think of logical reasons for traveling with the marriage license. Maybe there's a simple answer but I'm perplexed.[/QUOTE]

I’m perplexed too. We’ve never been asked for our marriage license. In fact, I realized a couple of years ago, when we were about to celebrate our 50th anniversary, that we didn’t even have a copy of our marriage license! We just had the form the minister signed. I sent for the government issued version so I could put a copy in the scrapbook we were making together.

Methinks their age difference and his obvious dementia made her think she might need to show it to someone...maybe even to Ray! Remember Honey, we got married last June. I’m your wife.

 

[HarvestMoon]

I'm sorry, but I'm becoming increasingly disturbed by the odd circumstances surrounding Ray's death. I really hope we get some answers soon.

It's affecting me too Roses. I had to turn in at 6:00 and just take a rest from it all.
Poor Ray. At the very least he should have died in SF surrounded by his beloved city with a place and people familiar to him. He may have died from exposure to the cold. Can't stand to think of him going thru that process, of the body shutting down and dying that way. At least his son is there to try to get answers for Ray and to bring his body back home to San Francisco.

 

[HarvestMoon]

INTERVIEW: The Passing of Longtime Bay Area Radio Host Ray Taliaferro

 

[RP48819]

Wooded area where Ray was found.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10212489663388319

 

[RP48819]

Why would the wife tell police they had the rental car for a couple of days when it was actually a month?

 

[Lilibet]

INTERVIEW: The Passing of Longtime Bay Area Radio Host Ray Taliaferro

A few points from this interview with Pat Thurston...

Ray’s wife gave LE the wrong phone number to contact her initially. They finally tracked her down and talked again but have not been able to reach her since.

His body was found in an open area near the woods and near the river.

Ray had a long-time girlfriend and loyally took care of her when she developed a brain tumor until she died.

Ronn Owens will be talking about Ray today on his show.

His memorial service will probably be held at the Commonwealth Club. Ray was on the board and they donated heavily to the .

 

[Lilibet]

Why would the wife tell police they had the rental car for a couple of days when it was actually a month?

I’m still looking for a link from the sheriff with this information about having the rental car a month. Was this in a radio broadcast or what? Thanks.

As to why she would claim they only had picked up the car recently, when LE would eventually find out she lied, I’m stumped. But it’s a pattern of clouding the situation that I find very troubling.

I wonder if she has left the country.

 

[Sapphires13]

His body was found in an open area near the woods and near the river.

I wouldn’t say it was near the river. The river is about two miles north. To me that’s not really “near” the river. The area was near a very small drainage creek that’s little more than a ditch.

The area is not far from businesses and right next to a housing complex. It’s not very secluded.

 

[RP48819]

I’m still looking for a link from the sheriff with this information about having the rental car a month. Was this in a radio broadcast or what? Thanks.

As to why she would claim they only had picked up the car recently, when LE would eventually find out she lied, I’m stumped. But it’s a pattern of clouding the situation that I find very troubling.

I wonder if she has left the country.

It was broadcast on a local SF TV news report. Can't remember which one. Might have been KTVU or ABC7.

She told them they had the rental car was for a couple of days when it was actually a month.

OTOH, Ray was seen on video alone at the church. Don't think she had any way of knowing his location after he took off alone. That tends to clear her.

 

[Lilibet]

It was broadcast on a local SF TV news report. Can't remember which one. Might have been KTVU or ABC7.

She told them they had the rental car was for a couple of days when it was actually a month.

OTOH, Ray was seen on video alone at the church. Don't think she had any way of knowing his location after he took off alone. That tends to clear her.

Thanks. Yes, Ray visiting the church hours after she reported him missing tends to clear her of direct involvement with Ray’s demise. But where has she been and why was she not publicizing his disappearance and having continuing and truthful contact with LE? That’s not at all normal behavior when a loved one disappears, especially one who is impaired and potentially endangered. If you love someone, you rent another car, make fliers and go looking for him IMO. It’s not like this is a metropolitan area. How far could he go? Obviously, not far.

 

[Mira_Eg]

Foul play unlikely in longtime radio host’s death, authorities say
Ray Taliaferro: No signs of foul play in radio host's death
"Police in Paducah, Kentucky, issued a news release sharing initial results from an autopsy performed Tuesday, but they noted that the report has not been finalized.
“Preliminary autopsy results confirm Paducah police detectives’ initial findings that foul play is not indicated in the death of Ray Taliaferro,” the release said. “Exposure to the elements may have been a factor in the California man’s death.”"
From the same report:
"“There were some leaves around him and on him to indicate he wasn’t recently placed there, or that it had been within the last day or two that he had appeared there,” Laird said."
"He spoke with employees of local businesses and restaurants in Paducah, some of whom said they were concerned about his mental state, as Taliaferro repeatedly introduced himself."

 

[rosesfromangels]

IMO, the above article is misleading. While Ray may have indeed died from exposure, that doesn't mean "foul play" wasn't involved. Meaning:
1. Was he preyed about as a vulnerable senior?
2. Was he properly taken care of?
3. Why were they driving around for a month in a rent a car?
4. Was he cut off from friends and those who would "keep an eye on him"
5. Was he taken advantage of financially?
6. Was he intentionally given any medications to cause confusion?
7. Was his will changed recently?

I am NOT saying any of the above happened, but I want a more extensive investigation around "foul play".
Was he even able to consent to marriage due to what has been characterized as signs of dementia?

I have lots of questions. Not accusing anyone, I just have lots of questions. I bet his old colleagues at KGO do too.

Amateur opinion and speculation only

 

[Lilibet]

IMO, the above article is misleading. While Ray may have indeed died from exposure, that doesn't mean "foul play" wasn't involved. Meaning:
1. Was he preyed about as a vulnerable senior?
2. Was he properly taken care of?
3. Why were they driving around for a month in a rent a car?
4. Was he cut off from friends and those who would "keep an eye on him"
5. Was he taken advantage of financially?
6. Was he intentionally given any medications to cause confusion?
7. Was his will changed recently?

I am NOT saying any of the above happened, but I want a more extensive investigation around "foul play".
Was he even able to consent to marriage due to what has been characterized as signs of dementia?

I have lots of questions. Not accusing anyone, I just have lots of questions. I bet his old colleagues at KGO do too.

Amateur opinion and speculation only

I agree with your questions. I think LE has ruled out murder or criminal activity intending to cause death when they refer to “foul play.” But I am quite sure they are looking into all the things you mention. I think only #5 and 6 could be charged as an actual crime, and it would be pretty hard to make the leap even to manslaughter. However, the circumstances leading up to Ray’s death certainly will be closely investigated. I will be interested in the toxicology report.

 

[realanastasia]

Just conjecture but could the presence of the marriage license in a car parked outside a bank suggest that the couple intended to have a new version of Ray’s will notarized? Most banks have at least one notary on staff, and in light of the son’s claim that CC had a mercenary motivation for matrimony (sorry!!), I wonder if prior to leaving CA, she “helped” him write a new will (leaving the estate to her) and then convinced him that it had to be notarized in KY where she’s from. I don’t know estate law at all, but it seems plausible that they might have had to present the marriage license to the notary to verify that she was, in fact, his wife. Once notarized at the bank (though as of now we don’t have any evidence of that), I’d think the new will would be legally binding and her mission accomplished. Then she easily could’ve abandoned Ray at the bank or in the parking lot and left town (via public transit or taxi or friends/family).
Also, not sure if CC is the same person whose name comes up in KY criminal records for showing up highly intoxicated to a jail (she was supposed to visit an inmate but ended up getting herself arrested!) but the age seems about right...Surveillance video shows additional crime inside jail lobby

 

[Lilibet]

Just conjecture but could the presence of the marriage license in a car parked outside a bank suggest that the couple intended to have a new version of Ray’s will notarized? Most banks have at least one notary on staff, and in light of the son’s claim that CC had a mercenary motivation for matrimony (sorry!!), I wonder if prior to leaving CA, she “helped” him write a new will (leaving the estate to her) and then convinced him that it had to be notarized in KY where she’s from. I don’t know estate law at all, but it seems plausible that they might have had to present the marriage license to the notary to verify that she was, in fact, his wife. Once notarized at the bank (though as of now we don’t have any evidence of that), I’d think the new will would be legally binding and her mission accomplished. Then she easily could’ve abandoned Ray at the bank or in the parking lot and left town (via public transit or taxi or friends/family).
Also, not sure if CC is the same person whose name comes up in KY criminal records for showing up highly intoxicated to a jail (she was supposed to visit an inmate but ended up getting herself arrested!) but the age seems about right...Surveillance video shows additional crime inside jail lobby

I think your theory about needing the marriage license for the will could be possible, but that particular bank saw only Ray and would have a record of notarizing something for them. But it could have been elsewhere. I really wish we knew more about their wedding...when exactly, where and how she met him. That’s pretty funny about the arrest of a CC at the jail. Hoping it’s a different person.

I wonder if CC was Ray’s caregiver or housekeeper. It’s so easy for older people to be taken advantage of by caregivers. Most caregivers are wonderful people, but there are a few bad apples. We once lived in a retirement community in which some residents hired outside caregivers. There was one caregiver who accompanied a resident to meals, and instead of sitting with him, she was up helping other residents without being asked, ingratiating herself with them in order to get more work (against the rules). Some of us were wise to her smarmy ways and alerted management repeatedly. She even insulted a wife who told her to keep her hands off her disabled husband! It took over a year for them to finally ban her from the property...but not before she had been hired on the staff as a med tech, distributing meds in assisted living. She lasted less than two weeks, thankfully. We finally had to move because we were spending too much time and emotional energy advocating for residents and dealing with the incompetent management. But it’s heartbreaking to watch what goes on with our vulnerable elders.

 

[carbuff]

That's seriously weird.

 

[RP48819]

Thanks. Yes, Ray visiting the church hours after she reported him missing tends to clear her of direct involvement with Ray’s demise. But where has she been and why was she not publicizing his disappearance and having continuing and truthful contact with LE?

Not really going to fault her for not publicizing and having limited interaction with LE. She may have a minor criminal background or negative experiences with LE or whatever.

Mainly fault her for not disclosing the dementia as that would have led to an immediate more urgent search. He was found just a mile away from the church where he was last seen.

Also, it does not seem right that a woman who has known him for 6 months inherits his estate while children receive nothing. Of course that is his decision to make but not clear if he was of sound mind to make that decision.

Would have been best had Ray made a clear will several years ago announcing his intent regarding his children's inheritance.

 

[HarvestMoon]

A look at the "seedy motel."

No foul play in former radio host’s death, son hires private investigator

 

[Lilibet]

A look at the "seedy motel."

No foul play in former radio host’s death, son hires private investigator

It doesn’t look exactly up to a standard I’d stay at, like even a Best Western.

Quoting the article:

Basically try to figure out why he was down here,” he said. “What were Charlotte Crawford’s intentions in bringing him down here?”

Charlotte Crawford is the widow of the radio host. According to his son, they married this past June. Taliaferro, Jr said he believes the change of location from his home of the condition of the hotel triggered his father’s dementia.

“He was suffering from severe dementia,” he said. “She took him out of his element put him in a cheap motel for a night. You know he’s out here in the country, this isn’t where he is from. He doesn’t do this, and when you do that to people with dementia, it sends them over the edge. They become disoriented, agitated and sends them over the edge. And that’s what happened to my father.”

Taliaferro’s son said he hired an independent private investigator to help him get answers. Paducah police say they were not aware it.

Taliaferro's son said he needs answers and he's taking his own steps to get them.

"A lot of mixed emotions going on, said Raphael Taliaferro, Jr. “Right now I feel like our family is being robbed."

No foul play in former radio host’s death, son hires private investigator

 

[Lilibet]

So is she going to let the family take Ray back to SF for burial?