NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL – A cold case that haunted a Florida community for nearly 40 years has finally been solved, bringing long-awaited justice to the family of Shirley Branch, a real estate broker who was tragically murdered during a robbery.
Branch was killed in her office on 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, just a stone’s throw from the police headquarters. The horrific incident left her family and friends in anguish, as the investigation seemed to hit a dead end. However, the relentless work of two retired detectives has turned the tide in this decades-old case.
Returning to the force with a mission to solve the unsolved, the detectives established a dedicated cold case unit in January 2023. They revisited the evidence from the original crime scene, including fingerprints that had not been entered into the automated fingerprint identification system due to outdated criteria.
In a breakthrough moment this past March, the detectives resubmitted the fingerprints, which led to a match with Jeffrey Taylor, a 65-year-old man. Taylor was 26 at the time of Branch’s murder, according to police records. This pivotal development has finally put a face to the crime that had remained a mystery for so long.
Branch’s family, who have endured decades of uncertainty and grief, are now on the brink of closure. They expressed a mix of relief and poignancy when learning of the arrest. “We’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” a family member shared.
At a news conference scheduled for this afternoon, Branch’s family will join detectives at the North Miami Beach Police Department to discuss the resolution of this case. The event is expected to be emotional, highlighting the perseverance of the detectives who refused to let the case go cold.
The detectives’ determination to seek justice underscores a broader message of hope for other families still waiting for answers. Their decision to come out of retirement to solve this case has not only brought closure to Branch’s family but also renewed faith in the power of persistence.
As the community absorbs this development, the story of Shirley Branch serves as a reminder of the impact of unwavering dedication in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.