Serial Killer’s Release In The Hands Of Judges

Washington County Judge Andrew Gonring will rule on March 20th whether a 70-year-old serial killer should be released from the Mendota Mental Health Institute after 30 years of confinement. Alvin Taylor killed four men in the mid-1980s in Wisconsin and Minnesota. One of the victims was from Washington County. Taylor was found not guilty of the crimes because of mental disease or defect. Judge Gonring turned down Taylor’s request for conditional release in October of 2016, saying he was not convinced that Taylor was no longer a risk to harm others. If Judge Gonring approves Taylor’s release request, Taylor still has to convince judges in Dunn and Eau Claire counties that he is no longer dangerous.