Man Charged With Murdering County Circuit Court Employee

A Ferguson man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of a St. Louis County employee.

St. Louis County Police said Hosie Taylor, 36, of the 100 block of Tiffin Avenue in Ferguson, killed Deidre Exum, 51, on Friday by striking and strangling her in her home in the 6600 block of Chesapeake Drive in Spanish Lake.

Exum worked as a civilian security guard at the St. Louis County Circuit Court building in Clayton.

An autopsy by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office determined she was killed by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

St. Louis County prosecutors said in the charges against Taylor that he killed Exum "after deliberation."

A fire started in Exum’s residence about the same time as the attack.

Police said a witness identified Taylor as the person leaving Exum’s residence at the time of the fire. Police also found the victim’s blood inside Taylor’s car, according to court documents.

“I am very proud of the hard work provided by the personnel of the St. Louis County Police Department,” said Chief Tim Fitch in a news release. “Their tireless work has led to a quick and successful resolution of this investigation.”

Bail for Taylor was set at $1 million.

Visitation for Deirdre Exum will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 4114 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis. Interment will follow at Lake St. Charles Cemetery, 7775 St. Charles Rock Road in Bel-Nor.