A Lake Station woman has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Bernard Taylor Jr., who was discovered dead in a Family Dollar parking lot early Sunday morning, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Lake Station Police Department.
Detectives said the incident occurred just before 2 a.m. on October 19, 2025, outside the Family Dollar shop at 2626 Central Avenue. Officers responded to a complaint of an unconscious male and saw Serenity Moesha Williams Worthey, 20, kneeling over Taylor, her hands on his chest. A pink child’s blanket lay across the sufferer, who had sustained an upper-chest wound. Despite life-saving efforts, attending doctors pronounced Taylor deceased on the site.
Detectives saw two vehicles parked near the business entrance: a black 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee belonging to Taylor and a black 2009 Hyundai Elantra driven by Worthey. Both the Jeep’s passenger and Hyundai’s driver doors were open. A one-year-old child shared by the couple was discovered in a car seat in the rear of Worthey’s vehicle. Taylor’s Jeep was carrying another woman in the passenger seat at the time of the incident.
Officers detained both women for questioning. A witness who lived nearby told authorities she observed two cars parked in the lot, one behind the other. The witness observed a male exit one vehicle, approach the second, and appear to laugh and speak before collapsing moments later while a woman screamed for aid.
According to the affidavit, Worthey informed investigators that she and Taylor had a “tumultuous” relationship, marked by previous domestic fights. She stated that she had celebrated her birthday with Taylor earlier that evening at his father’s home in Portage, where they had both been drinking. Later that night, the two apparently had an argument.
Worthey told police that she followed Taylor’s Jeep through many Lake Station homes before he parked in the parking area between Mike’s Gas and Family Dollar. She claimed Taylor approached her car, and the two began “tussling” near the driver’s side door, attempting to shove her back inside. During the confrontation, Worthey stated that Taylor collapsed and she dialed 911.
Worthey initially denied that they had caused any injuries. However, after investigators secured a search warrant and discovered a silver-handled kitchen knife with visible blood inside her vehicle, Worthey acknowledged stabbing Taylor during the scuffle. She explained to police that it was an accident and that she “didn’t actually think [she] did it” until she saw blood.
Police records reveal that the pair had two previous domestic calls earlier this year. In April 2025, Hobart Police investigated a quarrel in which Taylor claimed Worthey pepper-sprayed him and hit him with a car. There were no charges filed. A further report dated May 2025 in Gary documented another argument in which both parties refused further police participation.
A search of Worthey’s vehicle found that the knife had tested positive for blood. Worthey eventually submitted DNA samples and agreed to a phone search, but she refused to let police search her car first.
According to court records, Worthey is now charged with murder, aggravated battery (posing a substantial risk of death), domestic battery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child under 16 years old.
The Lake Station Police Department received assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
All accused are deemed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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