LI Man Gets Decades In Jail For Trying To Kill Wife With Cleaver

A Uniondale man was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Wednesday for trying to murder his wife in 2015.

Michael Taylor, 52, was convicted in April of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree attempted assault, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of aggravated criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child. He was acquitted of one count of first-degree attempted assault and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“This cowardly defendant hid from police behind a basement wall after brutally attacking and stabbing his then-wife,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “This was an unusually violent attack and thanks to the courageous actions of her daughter, the victim is alive today and on the road to recovery. Today’s sentence is a reminder that Nassau County law enforcement is doing everything in our power to hold abusers accountable.”

Around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2015, Taylor attacked his then-wife, 53. He swung a metal pole at her head, crushing her fingers as she put up her hands to defend herself. He then grabbed a meat cleaver and stabbed her in the head and back.

With the help of her daughter, the woman managed to flee, and her daughter called police. When officers arrived, Taylor fled into the basement of the home. Officers tried to contact him for two hours, and he was eventually find hiding in the walls of the basement. He told the officers he slept there.

The injuries Taylor inflicted on his wife required many surgeries to repair.

Photo courtesy Nassau County District Attorney's Office