Fugitive in slaying hid for years by settling in quiet town

REIDSVILLE, N.C. — The suspect in a deadly Florida shooting evaded capture for decades in a mundane manner, according to authorities and friends:

There was never an inkling of anything amiss, said Preston Trigg, who grew up in Reidsville and kept in touch with the couple after he helped sell them his mother’s house in 2002.

[...] Manion’s life was part of a long deception dating back to a violent 1977 crime in Florida, according to the FBI.

Taylor was indicted in 1980 on charges of murder and aggravated battery, but disappeared soon after, authorities said.

There were signs, however, that the couple was having financial problems after the wallpaper store went out of business several years ago.