Richmond man convicted of 1999 murder and armed robbery granted parole

The Virginia Parole Board has granted parole to Isaac Terrell Taylor, who was convicted of second-degree murder and armed robbery in Richmond, according to the board's August 2026 decisions report.

The board's August report lists Taylor, 49, as granted discretionary parole, recorded Aug. 28 and certified Aug. 31. His Richmond Circuit Court record includes a second-degree murder conviction with a 25-year sentence, a conviction for robbery of a residence with use of a gun or simulated gun carrying 15 years, and two convictions for using a firearm in the commission of a felony, one recorded as a second-or-subsequent offense with five years and one as a first offense with three years. Those judgments are dated July 1999. The report estimates he has served 28 years, 7 months and 9 days.

This newsroom did not find contemporaneous news coverage or a court opinion describing the facts of the killing that could be confidently matched to Taylor, and the board's record does not name the victim. This account is therefore limited to the offenses, sentences and time served the board lists.

Prior and repeat offenses: The board's record shows earlier convictions as well: a Richmond General District Court conviction for driving on a revoked license, second or subsequent offense, dated July 16, 1998, and two Richmond Circuit Court cocaine-possession convictions dated Jan. 8, 1999, and July 16, 1999, carrying five and 10 years. One of the firearm counts is recorded as a second-or-subsequent offense.

The board's stated reasons: The board's listed reasons included excellent institutional adjustment, being infraction-free for at least 24 months, demonstrated rehabilitation, improved coping and decision-making skills, completion of treatment, insight into the factors behind his crime, a documented support network, the prosecuting attorney's support for release, clear acceptance of responsibility, time served aligning with sentencing goals, significant community support, a structured reentry plan, his age at the time of the offense, educational milestones and a low risk-assessment score.

According to the Aug. 27 meeting minutes, an immediate family member of the victim spoke in opposition to parole, and Victim Services Coordinator Cindy Yadav read a statement from another family member who also opposed it. Taylor addressed the board. The vote was 5-0. Members noted he had been infraction-free since 2020; two members said the prosecuting attorney "does not oppose" release, while two said the prosecutor "supports" it. Board Member Valerie Boykin also cited his role as a peer mentor.

How the decision was made: At the Aug. 27 meeting, held in person and electronically at the board's offices on Atmore Drive in Richmond, each candidate addressed the board by video after a summary of victim input, and Chair Shannon Dion then called on each member to vote and state reasons, according to the approved minutes. The board approved those minutes on Sept. 10. The August report notes that the offenses it lists include all offenses for which a person has been serving time, whether or not they are parole-eligible.

Crime trends in Richmond: According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services report "Virginia Index Crime and Drug Arrest Trends 2016-2025," published in August 2026 using Virginia State Police crime repository data, Richmond recorded 436.9 violent index crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, compared with 574.7 in 2016, down 24% over the decade. Its property crime rate was 3,287.3 per 100,000 in 2025, compared with 3,611.8 in 2016, down 9%. Statewide, DCJS reported 210.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, down 7% from 2024 and 14% from 2023; the median rate among Virginia's counties and independent cities was 172.9. DCJS notes that the repository receives rolling updates, so the rates may be revised.

Across August, the board decided 44 parole cases and granted 14, according to its monthly decisions report, a grant rate of about 32% for the month. It denied the other 30. Separately, it held 10 parole-violation hearings, revoking parole in three, continuing parole in six and discharging one person from supervision. For historical context, the Virginia State Crime Commission reported discretionary-parole grant rates of 11% in 2018, 8% in 2019, 12% in 2020 and 8% through September 2021, and Bolts magazine reported a rate of about 1.6% in 2023. All five current board members were appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on March 4, 2026, and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Parole in Virginia is supervised release: the board sets conditions, and it can revoke parole and return a person to prison for violations, as it did in three revocation cases this August. The board's report does not give a release date or say where Taylor will live.

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.