AMY SZPARA

LAPLACE – A LaPlace man is being sought for attempted second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping after a severely injured woman found Thursday morning, lying naked alongside Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge identified the local man as her assailant. Troy Taylor, 33, 117 E. 30th St., Reserve, was named by the 20-year-old LaPlace victim, who received numerous cuts to the neck and hands. She told authorities the attack took place in a LaPlace location. She also told the Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office that after Taylor injured her, he drove her to Baton Rouge to drop her off. It is unknown if the victim was pushed from the car or if she jumped, but according to authorities the speed of traffic was around 40 miles per hour. Though conscious when she was found, the woman was in no condition to tell authorities much other than the suspect’s name. The St. John Sheriff’s Office was notified at 7:55 a.m., and the attack is believed to have occurred between the hours of 5 and 6 a.m. Taylor fled in the victim’s vehicle, a maroon 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse with dark tinted windows and a vehicle bra on the front bumper, Louisiana license plate IHY321. Capt. Michael Tregre, spokesman for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said the victim spent a large part of Thursday in surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. She is expected to survive. “We believe he’s right here in LaPlace,” said Tregre, who added that many officers are looking for Taylor right now. He said the sheriff’s office received calls stating that Taylor had been seen in the area. According to Tregre, Taylor was a friend of the woman’s family. He said physical evidence that supports the victim’s story was found at the LaPlace location where the attack took place. Taylor has several prior arrests, and he has spent time in prison for armed robbery. Authorities ask that anyone with information on the whereabouts of Taylor call the sheriff’s office at 652-6338.