Ipswich child rapist suffers painful and lonely death in prison

Investigators examine the death of a notorious Ipswich paedophile who was serving time in prison for committing a heinous crime against a young child. WARNING: Distressing content.

It has been revealed that Ipswich pedophile Darren Rodney Taylor died while serving time in prison for repeatedly raping, abusing, and assaulting a helpless four-year-old boy.

Darren Rodney Taylor died in custody after serving time at Wacol prison for raping and beating a small child. Picture: Glenn barnes

The paedophile was repeatedly refused release for not attending rehabilitative programs.

The then 47-year-old was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on November 12, 2012, after pleading guilty to rape, indecent treatment of a child and possessing child exploitation material.

Although he was eligible for release in 2015, Taylor failed to complete relevant programs and refused psychological assessment, so the parole board didn’t let him walk free.

After being deemed an unacceptable risk, Taylor took the matter to the Brisbane Supreme Court for a judicial review in 2016.

The court heard because Taylor began denying his crimes he was deemed unfit to participate in offender programs, and he also failed to treat his paedophilia.

His bid for freedom failed again and he would remain in prison until his death on July 14, 2017.

An inquest was launched into Taylor’s death in 2019 which concluded the 52-year-old died of cancer.

“Taylor died in custody as a result of a high grade neuroendocrine cell carcinoma with metastasis to the liver, abdomen and lymph nodes, for which he was diagnosed in 2017,” State Coroner Terry Ryan reported.

“Unfortunately, his condition was not amendable to surgery and did not respond to chemotherapy.”

Two days before his death an inmate told prison staff that Taylor was bedridden, and staff found him in a confused state.

Taylor was transferred to hospital with multi-organ failure.

“The following day Mr Taylor was in clear distress due to abdominal pain and a decision was made to cease active treatment and transition to comfort cares,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said Taylor received “adequate and appropriate medical care” while at the Wacol Wolston Correctional Centre and Princess Alexandra Hospital.

After Taylor’s terminal diagnosis the PA Hospital wrote a letter of support to parole endorsing his release due to exceptional circumstances.

Although Taylor never followed through with the bail application because he had nowhere to live and no friends or family to support him.

The coroner’s report noted Taylor was studying a business degree and had four estranged children who had no concerns about their father’s treatment and subsequent death.