GREENSBURG, IN – A Decatur County man is facing murder charges after authorities say he shot and killed his father at their rural home early Tuesday, later leading deputies to the body when they returned for a second welfare check.

Wyatt Taylor, 28, was arrested and charged in connection with the death of his father, 50-year-old Joshua Taylor. Court records indicate the incident began to unfold late Monday night, when Wyatt made a series of troubling phone calls to his uncle.

According to court documents, Wyatt first contacted his uncle and asked, “Should I do it or should I go to bed?” The call alarmed the uncle, who attempted to reach Joshua Taylor but received no response.

Soon after, Wyatt called again to request a ride, and the uncle said he could hear smoke detectors sounding in the background. When pressed to speak with Joshua, Wyatt claimed his father was asleep and attributed the smoke alarm to burning a pizza, investigators said.

After multiple attempts to check on his brother, Wyatt’s uncle contacted authorities just after midnight to request a welfare check at the Taylors’ home along South County Road 60 Southwest, outside Greensburg. The uncle relayed that Wyatt was known to have a history of depression.

Deputies responded to the residence within minutes and encountered Wyatt in the driveway. He maintained that he was alone, insisted the smoke was due to cooking mishap, and told officers his father was simply resting. No signs of distress prompted deputies to leave after the initial visit.

Concerned for his brother’s welfare, the uncle persisted and requested deputies return for a second check. About 20 minutes later, law enforcement arrived again and were again met by Wyatt outside. Upon requesting to see Joshua Taylor, deputies were led into a dark first-floor bedroom.

According to investigators, Wyatt turned on the light, gestured toward the bed, and said, “He’s right there.” Joshua Taylor was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds to his head and neck. Several spent bullet casings were located near the body, with investigators noting additional casings within the bedding and embedded in the wall.

Authorities said smoke detectors were found near the shooting scene, and although a cardboard pizza box was discovered during the search, there was no evidence a pizza had been cooked or burned.

A handgun matching the caliber of the recovered casings was found upstairs in the home, its magazine empty and matching the number of rounds fired. Wyatt’s wallet, hat, and a box of matching ammunition were found nearby, according to the affidavit.

Wyatt Taylor was taken into custody and transported to the county jail. During questioning by sheriff’s officials, he claimed he had returned to live with his father two weeks earlier after moving from Utah. Wyatt alleged his father had exhibited erratic behavior, becoming verbally abusive and making him fear for his own safety.

A forensic autopsy ruled Joshua Taylor’s cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The number of bullets recovered aligned with the number of spent casings and the firearm’s magazine capacity, investigators said.

Wyatt Taylor remains in custody pending a pretrial conference set for Oct. 7. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 16.