A Linn man was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of a 2021 double murder.
Warren Taylor was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder in Osage County earlier this month. He was sentenced this week to 30 years to life in prison for each of the deaths of Leonard Gerloff, 59, and Pauline Gerloff, 56, both of Chamois, with the sentences to run concurrently.
An investigation by the Osage County Sheriff's Office and Missouri Highway Patrol determined both victims died of gunshot wounds at their home north of Linn in July 2021. Court documents state the bodies were found on the patio, with Pauline shot in the head and Leonard found lying face down on the ground in a pool of blood.
A Highway Patrol probable cause statement states authorities found surveillance video from a nearby residence, which apparently showed Leonard coming back to his home the night of the killings. Shortly after he arrived home, the video reportedly showed another vehicle pulling into the residence and pulling out of the driveway within a few seconds.
A witness told authorities the truck had been seen leaving the Gerloffs' driveway around the time shown on the video. The witness claimed to be nearly involved in a collision as the truck was "hastily leaving the area." The witness later identified Taylor as the driver of the truck.
Taylor was later located at a bar in Chamois. Authorities said they found a blood stain on the left front fender of his truck.
Taylor agreed to be interviewed by investigators and told them there were witnesses who could provide an alibi for him during the time when the deaths occurred. The witnesses told authorities they had seen Taylor leave the bar for a time prior to the deaths.