Distraught Over Dog's Illness, Illinois Teen Dies In Crash

Taylor StinchcombOur hearts and prayers go out to the Stinchcomb family.

— Kenn

Taylor Stinchcomb’s parents offered her a choice on her 13th birthday. They would lease a horse for her to ride or allow her to bring home a dog.

She went with the dog.

Taylor’s family said she adopted a 4-year-old Doberman Pinscher from an animal shelter and named him Romulus. The two were inseparable; neighbors saw them walking through their Gurnee, Illinois subdivision practically everyday, a huge, contented smile on Taylor’s face.

After two happy years however, Romulus became ill with cancer and while the family was pursuing advanced medical treatment for the dog, they discussed the possibility of euthanasia. Taylor found that idea hard to take.

Taylor, loyal to her core, was shattered. So Tuesday morning, authorities said she did something desperate: she loaded Romulus into her parents’ minivan without permission and fled the house.

Taylor then picked up a friend, also 15, who was behind the wheel when the van flew off a rural Lake County Illinois road and struck several trees and a utility pole. Taylor was killed in the crash, while the driver suffered minor injuries. Romulus did not survive.

“He was with her till the end, literally,” family friend Casey Fallos said.

That detail made the tragedy all the more difficult to bear, some said. They remembered Taylor as a good student, dedicated athlete and enthusiastic community volunteer who was so smitten with creatures great and small that she wanted to become an “animal cop.”

“She loved animals, and she was very, very spirited,” said her sister Mallorie Holler, 26. “She loved her dog more than anything.”

Josh Petersen, a youth pastor at Immanuel Church in Gurnee, discovered how much Taylor adored her dog after telling a story one night about being chased by a Doberman.

“She got in my face afterward and talked about how great (Dobermans) are, how they get a bad rap for being mean,” he said. “There was no doubt about her total affection for her dog.”

Now Taylor and her beloved Romulus will be together forever.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Diane
Diane
12 years ago

Sad beyond words.

Robin Nesteruk
12 years ago

Prayers for Taylor and her dog Romulus..as well as her familiy and friends..She and her dog were inseparable to the end..Comforting is the fact that they are now together in heaven and The Rainbow Bridge together..I believe that Taylor and her dog Romulus were brought together for a reason.. God does indeed work in mysterious ways..They are together forever never to be separated…Sending Love and Light to her family

Robin Nesteruk
12 years ago

Prayers for Taylor and her dog Romulus..as well as her familiy and friends..She and her dog were inseparable to the end..Comforting is the fact that they are now together in heaven and The Rainbow Bridge together..I believe that Taylor and her dog Romulus were brought together for a reason.. God does indeed work in mysterious ways..They are together forever never to be separated…Sending Love and Light to her family

Kathy
Kathy
12 years ago

This is heartwrenchingly sad-but I know and understand her dedication to her soulmate dog.  My heart goes out to the family, but know they have not only one, but two new Angels now watching over them…

Kathy
Kathy
12 years ago

This is heartwrenchingly sad-but I know and understand her dedication to her soulmate dog.  My heart goes out to the family, but know they have not only one, but two new Angels now watching over them…

Michelle Hughes
12 years ago

Very sad. Prayers for Taylor’s family and friends. Maybe some what of a comfort knowing the two of them will be together forever. I’m with Robin, I think God works in mysterious ways as well and for some reason, brought the two of them together. Kind of a love story. For us animal lovers out there, it sounds like Romulus was her soul-dog or heart-dog. I had one once too and he is tattooed now over my left breast (heart). RIP Taylor and Romulus.

SidCat
SidCat
12 years ago

They should be buried together!

SidCat
SidCat
12 years ago

They should be buried together!

SidCat
SidCat
12 years ago

They should be buried together!

skg
skg
12 years ago

how heartbreaking, not just for this young girl who could have done so much to help animals in the future, but for her family who clearly lost a child full of love and compassion.  i know she and romulus are together.  may they always rest in peace.

SUBSCRIBE TO
DOG FILES

Top Posts

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x

Why haven't You Signed up For our Newsletter?

Find out why over 8000 Dog lovers have already Joined!

Receive our newsletter, get special deals & stay updated.