Man accused of rape at knifepoint

A West Plains man remains in custody after accusations that he raped a woman at knifepoint. Taylor Wilcox, 33, faces five felonies after the events of January 4: first degree rape, kidnapping, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance. 

 

Officers from the West Plains Police Department responded to an address on Joe Jones Blvd. On scene, officers found Wilcox covered with a blanket in a vehicle outside. A search of his pockets and the vehicle produced a pocket knife, a baggie of suspected methamphetamine, and a bag of women’s clothing, specifically a shirt that had been cut open. 

 

The victim identified the clothing as what she was wearing during the attack. Court documents contain the victim’s account of the attack. Wilcox is accused of holding the knife to her throat while violently sexually assaulting her. Afterwards, the victim says he forced her to shower, “so there would be no DNA.”

 

Wilcox was taken into custody and formally charged on January 4. He remains in Howell County Jail as of press time on a $100,000 bond.