2 charged in killing Wilkinsburg woman for tax refund plead guilty

Two of three people accused of killing a Wilkinsburg woman in 2018 to rob her of her tax refund pleaded guilty Tuesday to their part in the crime, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

A third man is awaiting trial in the case.

Keiauna Davis, 27, was shot and killed on Feb. 22, 2018, in the 1700 block of Laketon Road.

Davis, a mother of two, had received her tax refund and was carrying $3,000 cash the day she died, police said. She worked at a store on Laketon Road with one of the people accused in her death, Laya Whitley, 23, of Pittsburgh. Whitley texted Dane Taylor, 22, about the cash Davis was carrying and the two conspired to rob her of it, police said.

They followed her after she left work that day, and she was shot and killed as she walked home, police said.

Whitley pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and criminal use of a phone. In exchange for the plea, she was sentenced by Allegheny County Judge Mark Tranquilli to 20 to 50 years in prison.

Taylor pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy and a firearms violation and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison by Tranquilli.

The third person, Kaijin Scott, 25, of Turtle Creek, is awaiting trial on charges of homicide, robbery, conspiracy and tampering with evidence. Taylor paid Scott $800 to drive the car used to tail Davis, police said.

Davis was planning a birthday party for one of her daughters the day she was killed, Davis’ mother, Sheila Detwiler, previously told the Trib. Davis’ daughters now live with their grandmother in Charlotte, N.C.