Taylor Black murder (Freepik)
No mother should ever have to endure the pain of losing a child, yet Lindsay Allison finds herself marking the fifth anniversary of her son’s tragic and brutal murder. Taylor Black, an 18-year-old university student, was viciously attacked on February 17, 2020, after attending a birthday party. His body bore 64 stab wounds, with 40 of them inflicted on his head.
Lindsay’s world was shattered by her son’s murder, but her suffering intensified during the trial. Taylor’s killer, Nathan Costello, was not a stranger—he was once a friend whom Taylor had met through martial arts training.
Despite sending text messages admitting to the crime, Costello pleaded not guilty in court, claiming he had no recollection of repeatedly stabbing Taylor in the head and chest. As if the pain of the trial wasn’t enough, Lindsay was dealt another unimaginable blow—her brother, Nicky, took his own life after reading online details about Taylor’s murder trial that Lindsay had not yet shared with him.
“The man who murdered my son took two lives that day,” Lindsay said. “He not only killed Taylor but also took my brother from me.”
After laying her son to rest, she had to bury her brother, leaving her questioning why her family had to endure such immense pain.
Reflecting on the five years since Taylor’s death, Lindsay shared, “It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since Taylor was so cruelly taken from us. While it feels like it happened just yesterday, the time without him also feels like a lifetime.”
She finds solace in her younger son, Shay. “Every day is a struggle, but when I see his innocent face and realize he depends on me, it gives me the strength to keep going.”
She added, “Shay makes me incredibly proud. Even though he faces his own daily struggles, he manages to smile. He deserves a happy childhood, just like his older brother had. I will continue to be the best mother I can be for him.”
Costello was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years. However, the damage he inflicted on Lindsay’s family is irreversible.
Lindsay revealed that Shay now suffers from severe separation anxiety, constantly needing reassurance that he won’t lose another loved one. Meanwhile, she battles PTSD, forever haunted by the loss of her son.
A year after Taylor’s murder, and shortly before Costello’s conviction, Lindsay’s brother Nicky succumbed to the unbearable grief. “He simply couldn’t cope with the pain of losing Taylor and tragically took his own life in my garden shed,” she shared.
“This unimaginable pain has changed us all. I will never be the carefree person I once was, and I doubt I ever will be again.”
“I have to learn to live with my new reality—a life without my beautiful son. While I grieve the emptiness Taylor left behind, I also mourn the future he was robbed of,” she said.
She holds on to the hope of reuniting with Taylor one day. “I know he would have succeeded in everything he did. My only wish is that when my time comes, the first face I see will be his because I know he’ll be there to welcome me home in heaven.”
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