Daniel Tavares

Overview

Daniel Thomas Tavares Jr. (born 1966) is an American serial killer whose chilling criminal history includes the brutal stabbing of his mother in 1991, a double murder after his release from prison in 2007, and a confession to the 1988 murder of a woman found buried in a backyard. His life story is a tragic tale of violence, mental health struggles, and a system that failed to contain a dangerous individual.

Quick Facts

• Born: 1966 (age 58–59)
• Location: Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Convictions:
  • Manslaughter
  • Aggravated first-degree murder (2 counts)
  • First-degree murder
• Criminal Penalty: Life sentence without the possibility of parole
• Details:
  • Victims: 4
  • Span of Crimes: 1988–2007
  • Country: United States
  • States: Massachusetts, Washington
  • Date Apprehended: November 2007
  • Imprisoned at: Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, Washington

Early Life

Born the youngest of four children to Ann and Daniel Tavares Sr., a U.S. Navy officer, Daniel's early life was marked by instability. His parents divorced when he was just four, and his father moved to Florida, leaving Daniel and his siblings to be raised by their single mother. This turbulent upbringing set the stage for his future troubles.

Tavares dropped out of school in the eighth grade and found himself entangled with the law early on. At age 19, he was arrested for assault during a burglary. A family friend wrote to the judge, describing him as a "very sincere and honest young man," predicting he would never return to court. However, Tavares soon racked up multiple charges, including drug possession and robbery, leading to a pattern of probation violations throughout the mid to late 1980s.

In 1988, Tavares moved to Florida to live with his father, who attempted to rehabilitate him through counseling and work. Yet, despite these efforts, Tavares's life spiraled further into chaos when he was caught with a stolen checkbook. Eventually, he returned to Massachusetts, where his mental health deteriorated significantly; he was abusing various pharmaceuticals, including fluphenazine, a medication used to treat schizophrenia.

Murders and Imprisonment

On July 10, 1991, Tavares committed an act of horrific violence by stabbing his mother 26 times with a carving knife. During this chaotic scene, he also attacked Richard Pires, a family friend who had previously written a letter advocating for leniency during Tavares's earlier assault charge. When police arrived, they found Tavares banging his head against the ceiling, frantically declaring, "I can't take it. I'm hearing voices, and I can't take it."

In the aftermath of the murder, Tavares gave various explanations for his actions, claiming he had consumed an LSD-laced drink earlier that day and alleging that his mother's boyfriends had coerced him into sexual acts. In June 1992, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 to 20 years in prison. While incarcerated, Tavares filed numerous lawsuits, alleging harassment and assault by correctional officers due to his sexual orientation.

After serving time, Tavares was released in June 2007 and relocated to Washington state. Just months later, on November 17, 2007, he shot and killed his neighbors, Beverly and Brian Mauck, in their home. Tavares claimed the murders were over a $50 debt for a tattoo, along with feelings of disrespect directed at him. He was arrested soon after and, in February 2008, received a life sentence for these murders.

In a shocking twist, in 2015, Tavares was found guilty of the October 27, 1988, murder of Gayle Botelho, whose remains were discovered buried beneath a tree at his previous residence. Prosecutors argued that the motive was a cocaine debt, and Tavares confessed to the murder on multiple occasions while in prison, although he occasionally attempted to distance himself from the crime, suggesting that "rival drug dealers" were responsible.

As of 2020, Tavares is serving his life sentence at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Washington, leaving behind a grim legacy of violence and tragedy.

See Also

• List of serial killers in the United States

Sources

• Martinez, Andrew. "State's highest court denies reprieve for mass murderer Daniel Tavares." The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• Crimaldi, Laura. "How Daniel Tavares went from 'runt' to murderer." The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• Taormina, Barbara. "You be the judge: How a violent con was released, only to commit murder." The State Journal-Register. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• Sullivan, Jennifer. "Family of slain Graham couple seeks $20M over killer's early prison release." Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• Tizon, Tomas. "The fateful release of 'pure evilness.'" Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• O'Connor, Kevin. "Prosecutor: Daniel Tavares killed Gayle Botelho over cocaine debt." The Herald News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
• Ellement, John. "SJC upholds conviction of Fall River man who killed woman in 1988 and buried her in backyard." The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.

For more details, you can visit the original Wikipedia article.