A repeat arsonist who set a fire in which a Kansas City, Kansas firefighter was severely injured was granted probation in Wyandotte County – but nonetheless failed to even show up for her sentencing, court records show.
Gabriel J. Taylor, 30, already had been convicted of arson in 2020 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, as well as other crimes such as assault and disturbing the peace in 2024 and an illegal weapons case in 2016.
Yet, after being charged with aggravated arson, a level 3 felony, in the Jan. 13 torching of the Subway restaurant at 315 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, Kansas, she was allowed to plead guilty May 8 to simple arson, a much less serious level 7 felony.
Her bond was then reduced and she was released – but despite court records implying the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office had agreed to have her put on probation, Taylor failed to show up for her sentencing June 24 and had to be re-arrested Thursday for failure to appear.
Her sentencing is now scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17, The Heartlander has learned. She was still in custody Wednesday morning.
All this comes after not only her prior criminal record for arson and other crimes, but after a firefighter was injured in the Jan. 13 arson.
A KCK firefighter’s leg was seriously injured at the fire scene when a passing car inadvertently drove over the hose and the pressure launched its metal coupling toward him – causing an “open tibia and fibula fracture,” according to reports.
If convicted under her original charge of aggravated arson, Taylor’s presumptive sentence under Kansas law would’ve been between 89 and 100 months – from over seven years to just over eight years, according to a criminal justice system source.
However, on the day of her plea May 8, District Attorney Mark Dupree’s office amended the criminal affidavit against Taylor to remove the fact that the firefighter had been injured.
At her guilty plea June 24, a judge noted that the parties “agree to probation” and that the defendant would “get a substance abuse evaluation” and follow its recommendations, as well as “get a mental health evaluation” and follow its recommendations.
The Heartlander has reached out to the KCKFD to see if it was aware of the arsonist’s probation and whether it was consulted on the matter by the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.
