Missing man’s remains found in Whitley County, two Pine Knot men charged with murder

Two Pine Knot men are facing murder and other charges in connection to the killing of a missing McCreary County man, whose remains were found late Tuesday afternoon in Whitley County.

Broderick Taylor (left) and Joe Bryant (right) were arrested and charged with murder on April 25, 2023, in the killing of Roscoe L. Garland.

Kentucky State Police Detective Matthew Parmley arrested Broderick A. Taylor, 24, and Joe D. Bryant, 48, who were both charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in the death of Roscoe L. Garland, according to a KSP release and arrest citations.

Garland, 54, of Pine Knot, was last seen on Aug. 1, 2022, at a residence in Pine Knot in McCreary County. He was reported missing on Oct. 14, 2022. His skeletal remains were discovered about 5 p.m. Tuesday off of Forest Service Road #6186 in Whitley County, according to state police.

Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Garland deceased at the scene. His remains have been taken to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy and positive identification through DNA.

During Parmley’s investigation into Garland’s disappearance from McCreary County, he received information, which led him to interview Bryant.

“During the interview, Joe Bryant was able to tell Detective Parmley of the details behind Roscoe Garland being assaulted at a location in McCreary County then taken to a wooded area in Whitley County where he was murdered and the body left in the woods,” Parmley wrote on Bryant’s arrest citation.

Prior to Bryant’s interview with police, Parmley interviewed another person, who also gave him information regarding Garland’s murder and about their involvement, according to Taylor’s arrest citation. (Editor’s note: the News Journal isn’t listing this party’s name since they have not been arrested or charged in connection with the case.)

Based upon the interviews with Bryant and the other person, evidence collected at the other individual’s residence and the Garland’s body being located Tuesday just inside of Whitley County, Parmley determined that the third party allegedly involved in Garland’s killing was Taylor, according to Taylor’s arrest citation.

“All interviews and evidence collected up to this point corroborated the statements and Mr. Taylor’s involvement. Mr. Taylor had also bragged to numerous people about the killing of Garland while incarcerated,” Parmley wrote on Taylor’s arrest citation.

At the time of his arrest, Taylor was already incarcerated in the Knox County Detention Center in regards to an unrelated case, according to the detention center’s website.

Garland was allegedly assaulted at the unnamed person’s residence to the point of near death and then was placed in a duffel bag and put into the trunk of a car. He was then taken just inside Whitley County where he was ultimately killed and buried, according to Taylor’s arrest citation.

Bryant was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center. Taylor remains lodged in the Knox County Detention Center.

When police attempted to interview Taylor Tuesday, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to answer any questions or make any statements, according his arrest citation.

The Knox County Detention Center houses inmates for McCreary County. According to the Knox County Detention Center’s records, Taylor was booked into the facility on Jan. 10, 2023, after being served with a parole violation warrant by the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department.

The arraignment of Taylor and Bryant could come as early as Thursday, according to the Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

Parmley is continuing the investigation and was assisted at the scene by KSP Post 11 personnel, the Laurel County K-9 Forensics Cadaver Dog Team, and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.