An Urbana man has been sentenced to prison for the brutal murder of an 87-year-old man in 2011, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced.
Josiah Matthews, 32, received a 25-years-to-life sentence, including 15 years for murder and an additional 10 years for aggravated robbery. These sentences will be served consecutively, meaning he won’t be eligible for parole for 25 years.
Matthews was convicted in October 2022 by a Champaign County jury. The evidence presented during the trial revealed that on Oct. 24, 2011, Matthews entered the home of Louis Taylor and assaulted him, causing severe blunt-force injuries, including multiple skull fractures. Taylor passed away 24 days later after being hospitalized.
Following the assault, Matthews stole Taylor’s wedding ring and vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned in a Springfield parking lot. Investigators discovered Matthews’ fingerprints on the vehicle and learned that he had checked into a nearby hotel.
Analysis of Matthews’ phone indicated he was in the area before the assault, turning off his phone for three hours. Witnesses testified that Matthews bragged about being in the area to find someone to rob. Others stated that Matthews attempted to sell the stolen vehicle and wedding ring.
The Urbana Police Department led the investigation, the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted lab work, and Yost’s Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted the case.