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Charges Upgraded in Sarah Goode Murder Case

Sarah Goode
Sarah Goode was reported missing in early June. Her body was discovered on June 12 in a wooded area in Medford. (Photo: Facebook)

The 19-year-old Mastic man accused of killing a Medford woman and leaving her lifeless body in the woods has been indicted on upgraded murder charges, authorities said.

Dante Taylor had originally been charged with second-degree murder, but now faces the more severe charge of first-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, as opposed to 25 years to life under the original charge.

He has also been indicted for attempted rape in a separate incident that occurred July 2011, authorities said.

The indictment will be unsealed Thursday at State Supreme Court in Riverhead.

Suffolk police said Taylor allegedly murdered 21-year-old Sarah Goode, who had been missing for several days before her body was found. A search crew of about 40 people discovered her body on June 12 in a wooded-area in Medford and alerted police.

Goode was reported missing by her sister in early June. Her BMW was found about a mile from where her body was discovered.

Taylor was arrested July 10 in Florida by Suffolk County police detectives and the United States Marshals for an unrelated arrest warrant. He was then transported back to Suffolk County for his initial court appearance.