Former Sevier County Man Charged in 2014 Murder of Girlfriend

A former Sevier County man faces murder charges in the death of his girlfriend, who was found dead her Seymour home in 2014.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office says Nicholas D. Taylor, 68, has been arrested in Butler County, Ohio for the murder of 72-year-old Susan K. Kokenge. Taylor and Kokenge were in a relationship and lived together at a home located at 318 Bream Court in Seymour, Tenn. On June 24, 2014, Taylor called 911 to report that he came home and found his girlfriend dead in the residence. The medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled her death a homicide.

The case has been under investigation and was presented to a Sevier County Grand Jury last week. A sealed presentment was returned against Taylor for 1st Degree Murder, 1st Degree Felony Murder, Fabricating Evidence, Theft over $250,000 and Vandalism over $500.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 4th Judicial Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Service assisted in the investigation.

Taylor is currently being held in the Butler County Jail in Ohio and awaiting extradition back to Sevier County where he will be arraigned in Sevier County Circuit Court.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.