DECATUR, GA – A man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole for the 2022 murder of the mother of his young daughter, whom he shot and killed while she held the couple’s 16-month-old child outside a Decatur daycare.
A DeKalb County jury convicted Taco Nash, 22, of 13 felony charges, including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, and cruelty to children in connection with the June 15, 2022, killing of 21-year-old Mic’Keya Montgomery. The verdict came after four hours of deliberation following a dramatic trial revealing harrowing details of the crime.
Authorities said Nash followed Montgomery to the daycare center and attempted to remove both her and their toddler by force. Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed Nash confronting Montgomery as the mother waited outside for a ride-sharing vehicle with her little girl. In the video, Montgomery pleaded for Nash to leave and returned inside the daycare in fear for her safety.
The situation escalated when Nash entered the facility, making violent threats that forced staff and parents to move quickly to protect the children inside. Prosecutors recounted Nash yelling he would kill Montgomery, their baby, and himself in front of witnesses, leading to panic inside the center.
Nash eventually forced Montgomery and their child at gunpoint into a wooded area behind the daycare. There, while Montgomery was still holding her daughter, Nash fatally shot her. The toddler was not physically injured and is now believed to be in the care of Montgomery’s family.
Testimony from daycare employees and video evidence corroborated the prosecution’s account, describing a chaotic scene that left lasting trauma among those present. One employee described Nash as relentless, refusing to leave Montgomery alone and terrorizing her in her final moments.
During the trial, the prosecution introduced evidence of Nash’s ongoing history of domestic abuse against Montgomery. Investigators revealed that Montgomery had ended the relationship due to escalating violence. In a note written two weeks before her death, Montgomery predicted her own fate, writing that she feared Nash would kill her if she stayed.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Montgomery had taken her own life, citing a note allegedly penned by Montgomery and the fact that the gun was later found in her hand. Nash also claimed to police after the shooting that Montgomery had shot herself. The jury, however, rejected this theory in light of the evidence.
Following the guilty verdict on all counts, Nash was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole plus 60 additional years. The court also issued a permanent protective order for Montgomery’s family, ensuring their ongoing safety in the aftermath of the crime.
Montgomery’s death has drawn attention to the dangers of domestic violence and the urgent need for effective protections for survivors and their children. Authorities have not stated whether Nash plans to appeal his conviction.