Three arrested in murder of missing Columbus man By Dispatch Staff Report 6 hours ago Lowndes County investigators have arrested three people in what they believe to be the murder of a man missing since last summer. Joseph Lane Purcell, 29, and Allan Michael Farley, 27, have both been charged with murder for the death of Columbus resident James Ryan Taylor, according to a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office press release. Deputies also arrested Deborah Johnston, 55, who has been charged with accessory after the fact. Taylor’s family last saw him July 14, 2020, according to Taylor’s mother, Laura Taylor. He was reported missing to Columbus Police Department, which has been searching for him primarily on The Island, where he was last seen at the Plaza Hotel the same night. His disappearance sparked local searches and prompted the family to offer a $5,000 reward for information on his whereabouts in February.