Highland Park man due in court on murder charges in connection with woman found in basement

DETROIT – A Highland Park man is due in court Thursday afternoon for an arraignment on charges in connection with the death of a woman found in Detroit basement with her throat slashed.

Timothy Bernard Hawkins, 45, is charged with first-degree murder and felony murder.

According to authorities, Avril D. Taylor was found Jan. 7 in the basement of her home on Goldengate Street, just east of Woodward Avenue. She was 48.

Taylor was found at about 1 p.m. when a friend came to borrow something.

Hawkins was taken into custody shortly after he was seen driving Taylor’s car at Second Avenue and Tuxedo Street.