Jury Convicts Lewis and Clark Man in 2018 Double Murder

A Lewis and Clark County jury on November 22, 2025 convicted Kyle Hamm on five charges related to the 2018 deaths of David and Charla Taylor. The convictions include two counts of deliberate homicide, along with tampering with physical evidence, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. The jury also unanimously found that the state proved a robbery occurred at the Taylors home on the night they were killed and that Hamm was legally accountable for that robbery.

Prosecutors in the case argued that Hamm bore legal responsibility in connection with the robbery at the Taylors residence the night the couple died, and the jury agreed after four days of testimony. The trial record will now move to sentencing, which is expected after a standard pre sentence investigation that will inform the judge on aggravating and mitigating circumstances before a sentence is imposed.

The victims were David and Charla Taylor, whose deaths prompted years of investigation and community concern. The case has lingered in the local consciousness since 2018, and the verdict brings a measure of legal resolution for residents seeking accountability. For families and neighbors, the jury decision closes one chapter while reopening questions about safety, prevention and the long term effects of violent crime on small communities.

Local officials and law enforcement will now focus on wrapping up remaining legal work in the case and preparing for the next trial. A third person charged in connection with the incident, Journey Wienke, is scheduled to go to trial later this month. The outcome of that trial may further shape the community conversation about responsibility and justice in this case.

The conviction underscores the role of the criminal justice process in addressing complex cases that can span several years. For residents of Lewis and Clark County, the trial highlighted the endurance of investigative work and the courtroom procedure needed to move a case from allegation to verdict. Neighbors and community leaders have noted the emotional toll that prolonged cases impose, and many will look to sentencing and the upcoming trial to see how the system balances punishment, deterrence and support for victims families.

As the legal process continues, county agencies and community groups may face renewed pressure to address underlying issues such as property crime and drug related activity that prosecutors cited during the trial. The jury verdict is a decisive step in a case that has been part of local conversation for seven years, and its ripple effects will be felt as sentencing and the remaining trial proceed.