Langhorne man held for trial in stabbing death of his uncle

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2015

After a stun-gun prong was removed from his abdomen, murder suspect Kyle Simpson was asked if he had any other injuries.

“No,” Simpson replied, looking at his hands, “this blood is from the guy I stabbed.”

Pennsylvania State Trooper Craig Acord recounted the conversation during a preliminary hearing Wednesday for the 24-year-old Langhorne man accused in the New Year’s Eve fatal stabbing of his uncle. It was the first, and only, murder in Bucks County so far this year.

Kyle Simpson

The victim, Stanley Taylor Jr., 58, was the brother of Langhorne Mayor Joseph Taylor.

Authorities allege that Simpson stabbed Taylor shortly after 11:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at a home in the 100 block of North Bellevue Avenue where he lived with his sister, Taylor and Taylor’s wife.

Court documents allege that Simpson’s sister told police her brother was intoxicated when he went into his bedroom upset and picked up a knife. The noise woke up Stanley Taylor Jr., who went to his nephew’s bedroom to talk him into putting down the knife, police said.

Simpson refused and attempted to leave the room, when Taylor tried to stop him, court documents note.

The two argued and Simpson allegedly stabbed Taylor once in the abdomen before walking away. Police found the wounded Taylor at the top of the stairs.

Taylor was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, underwent surgery for his wound, but was pronounced dead shortly before 8 a.m. Jan. 1.

On the witness stand, Acord testified that when he entered the home the night of the stabbing he found Simpson at a kitchen table holding something against his neck. The trooper said he later learned it was a large hunting knife.

Kyle Simpson

The trooper said he tried to convince Simpson to drop the knife, but he refused. A Middletown police officer then used a stun gun twice to subdue Simpson and take him into custody, Acord said.

Acord also testified that Simpson told him that he didn’t mean to stab Stanley Taylor but instead wanted to stab James Simpson. Court documents do not identify the relationship between Kyle Simpson and James Simpson.

On cross-examination, Acord acknowledged that he smelled alcohol on Simpson the night of the stabbing.

Following the trooper’s testimony, District Judge Daniel Baranoski held Simpson for trial on charges of criminal homicide and possession of an instrument of crime. He remains incarcerated in Bucks County prison without bail.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia