Grief affects people in many different ways. Moving on may seem too difficult, or even impossible. But for one mother, Carole Adler, the tragic death of her young son left her completely broken. Her son, Taylor, was an ambitious and talented young man, with a list of goals he’d set for himself throughout his life. Unfortunately, untimely circumstances would prevent him from ever finishing that list. They were each other’s best friends, constantly in communication no matter where they were. Carole never thought that one ordinary text she received while Taylor was at work would be the last… or would it?
The Best of Friends
Carole and Taylor shared an incredible bond. Most mothers would do anything to protect their children. It’s difficult feeling helpless in a circumstance where there is nothing to be done. Carole had to take a step back when Taylor started to get older and follow his own dreams. Though they always remained extremely close, their time together would be cut short far too soon…
A Bright and Talented Young Man
Carole reflected that her son had the brightest personality of anyone she knew. He was loved within their community, and he was driven to live his life to the fullest. Like many people, he’d written a bucket list of exciting things to complete within his life. Taylor wasn’t afraid of anything, and everything on his list would be completed without exception. He was sure of it.
First On the List
Most mothers are overprotective, and Carole was no exception. When Taylor told her that the first thing on his bucket list was to join the army, Carole was hesitant to support his decision. What if he got hurt?
It Will Be Okay
After lots of reassurance from Taylor and promises to stay safe and in touch, Carole agreed that he should follow this dream and Taylor joined the army. However, there were still plenty more things left for him to do…
A Lucky Chance
Number 13 on Taylor’s list ended up being the luckiest one to cross off. He was offered a job with the Colorado State Troopers. His ambitions were always big, and he didn’t want to settle for an office job or stay in the army where he was comfortable. It was time for bigger and better – and potentially dangerous – things, but Taylor wasn’t scared of anything.
Ride Along
Taylor was nearing the end of his training in May 2015, and he was close to becoming an official police officer for the state of Colorado. But, like most police training requires, Taylor still had to complete a ride along with another officer. Though they weren’t expecting any action, a call came in. That call would change both of their lives…
A Mother’s Worry
It wasn’t unusual for Taylor and Carole to text throughout the day. He would frequently remind her that she was a great parent, and made sure she knew how much she loved him. This was most likely the conversation they were having while Taylor was on his ride along, though Carole didn’t know that’s what he was up to….
Out of the Dark
Taylor’s new career as a police officer was sporadic; no two days were alike. One day he might be sitting at the station doing desk work, and the next he might be called out to respond to an accident or a crime. Being adventurous, he always preferred the latter…
Change of Plans
Though Taylor thought he’d be home soon after the ride along, a call came in about a fleeing suspect. Taylor and his partner, Officer Clinton, were tasked with responding to the call. He sent a text to his mom at 7:30, though little did he know that text would change his mom’s life…
Call to Action
While Taylor and Clinton were at the scene of the accident, they received a warning call through their radio. They were sitting in the intersection with the damaged vehicle but little did they know, the high-speed chase was coming right for them. It was supposed to just be another ordinary day for the two officers, but the suspects heading their way had other plans…
Life On The Line
Though Taylor and Clinton were supposed to be responding to the collision, they felt it was necessary to help their fellow officers in pursuit of the speeding suspect. They set up a speed trap and were hopeful they could catch the perpetrator before another accident happened…
Act Fast
They weren’t sure if they had been quick enough, though, but as the driver flew into view, Clinton and Taylor got ready. The car had to stop, they were sure. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case…
The Last Phone Call
Carole was at home when she got the phone call—she had a sinking feeling immediately. She knew Taylor was responding to an accident, but she had no idea he was a part of a dangerous chase in pursuit of a fleeing suspect…
An Untimely End
The perpetrator hadn’t stopped. There had been a tragic accident. Clinton and Taylor were both struck by the speeding vehicle, and the outcome was devastating…
Heroic Final Moments
While both he and his partner had sustained devastating injuries, Taylor did not survive the ordeal. In his last moments, Taylor was a hero. He realized that the car wasn’t going to stop, and it was heading straight for his own car as well as the tow truck driver that was removing the damaged vehicle that Taylor had responded to…
Another Life Saved
He frantically warned the tow truck driver to run, ultimately saving the man’s life. Taylor and Clinton faced a different fate. Clinton suffered critical injuries. Taylor lost his life at the scene. He was just 21 years old. Letting his family know was heartbreaking…
Last Acts
Taylor will always be remembered as a hero, especially for his willingness to save the life of a complete stranger when he knew it meant sacrificing his own. If Taylor hadn’t thought on his feet, the tow truck driver would have died as well, but now he was able to go home to his children. Sadly, Taylor’s family wouldn’t see him again, however, a strange turn of events would give his mother a small sign of hope…
One More Bucket List
In a strange twist of fate, Taylor’s last act was also an item on his bucket list. Number 9: save a life. Had he known what was going to happen, or had his natural protective instincts kicked in?
Unforeseen Tragedy
Whatever had caused Taylor to do it, he never imagined that one of his good deeds would end in tragedy, and his mother was left absolutely heartbroken…
A Loss for Words
Carole was certain they had made a mistake. Her son couldn’t be gone. She couldn’t believe the words she was hearing over the phone. Taylor was so young. He had so much life to live.
Unfinished Business
What about the rest of his bucket list? Taylor’s life was just finished. All Carole could think to do was scream. There were no words for this, she didn’t know how to live life without her son…
The Lone Survivor
Amazingly, Taylor’s phone survived the crash. When Carole was given Taylor’s things, she immediately searched through his phone for some relief. Most of their messages detailed Taylor’s hopes and dreams, and she wasn’t ready to let go of them yet. It was then that Carole realized that she was the last person Taylor had texted, and she couldn’t let it end like that, so she kept sending his phone messages….
The Anguished Texts
Even though she knew Taylor would never respond, she kept sending him messages to ease her mind. She was always thinking of him, and texting him was a natural reflex. Grief hits everyone differently, and Carole believed that this would help her accept what had happened…
The Other End of the Line
One night, she decided to send a longer, more heartfelt message. Carole wrote about how much she wished her son would come home. She was having a particularly rough night and needed so badly for him to respond. She knew it couldn’t be possible, but then, her phone buzzed…
A Shocking Response
To her shock, she saw a message had come back. Could it be true? Was it her son? Sadly, no. Instead, Carole read that she was messaging Sgt. Kell Hulsey, another police officer who worked with Taylor. How could this be?
A Strange Coincidence
Nobody believed what was happening. Kell had been wondering who had been sending him messages for weeks, but this particular one seemed different. Carole explained who she was and why she had been texting her son’s old number. Kell was at a loss for words. He was shocked that the mother of a fallen officer from his unit was on the other end of the line. Kell knew how dangerous the job could be, so he had to do something to help…
Change of Number
Kell had explained that recently he’d gotten a new phone and a new number came with it. Taylor’s number had been recycled and assigned to Kell’s new phone. He believed the only way to console the grieving mother was to change his number so that she could keep sending her son messages…
Face the Truth
Now that she had accepted that she truly would never get a reply, Carole thought it best that Kell kept Taylor’s number. What better way to honor her son, than another officer in his unit coincidentally getting his old phone number…
A Memory That Will Last a Lifetime
Taylor never became a certified state trooper, but his memory has risen through the ranks of the Colorado police force. Taylor’s story reminds Kell of why he signed up for the force in the first place. Though he may never finish his bucket list, Kell works hard every day to see as much of the world as he can, for himself and for Taylor. Unfortunately, Taylor isn’t the only officer who suffered this terrible fate on the job…
Killed in an Off-Duty Crash
On May 29, 2019, Officer Devon McKenzie, 24, was killed in a motorcycle crash while he was off-duty. He served in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He was thrown from his motorcycle and struck by two vehicles along Capital Beltway around 11:20 pm.
Fatally Shot by Suspect in Alabama
Officer William Buechner was shot to death and two other officers wounded as police answered a call about a domestic disturbance in a mobile home park on Sunday night. A man who led an Alabama National Guard fire team is charged with capital murder and other offenses.
Struck by a Drunk Driver in Tennessee
Shelby County prosecutors said Thursday that suspect Marquell Griffin was intoxicated and speeding when he slammed into the car of Lt. Myron Fair, a 25-year veteran of the Memphis Police. Authorities say Fair was stopped at a traffic light, headed home from work, when his Nissan Altima was hit from behind by Griffin’s Dodge Durango just after midnight on March 21 in Memphis.
Safety Always Comes First
In 2018, 144 police officers were reportedly killed in the line of duty nationwide. After these horrible accidents, minding the rules of the road and being very aware of your surroundings, particularly when emergency response units are on the scene, can save lives.