A Missouri woman has admitted to a horrific two-state killing spree driven by bitter custody battles. Taylor Santiago, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday in Arkansas to capital murder and attempted capital murder for a January 2025 shooting that left one woman dead and a father wounded. She was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 40 years.
Deadly Rampage Begins in Missouri
On January 22, 2025, Santiago invited her ex-husband, Troy Huffman, to her apartment in Missouri under the pretense of seeing their son. When Huffman arrived, Santiago told the boy to cover his ears, saying she was going to “take care of the bad guys.” She then shot Huffman dead with a .38 revolver.
Crossing State Lines for More Violence
After the murder, Santiago stole Huffman's Mercedes-Benz and drove 80 kilometers to the Arkansas home of Nathan Green, the father of her daughter. Just after midnight on January 23, she shot Green and his new girlfriend, Sophia Williams. Williams died at the scene; Green survived a gunshot to the cheek. Four children under the age of 10 were present, and one witnessed the attack.
Confession and Sentencing
Santiago fled back to Missouri but later called 911 from a police facility parking lot to confess. She was taken into custody, and Huffman's body was discovered in her apartment. During interrogation, Santiago described herself as a “disgusting, evil murderer” and stated that only “death or jail forever” were appropriate punishments. She had already been sentenced to life in Missouri for Huffman's murder. Detectives believe the killings were linked to custody disputes.
