Cleber Mariano pleads guilty to strangling death of Danielle Taylor of Mashpee

Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

A 36-year-old man pleaded guilty on Friday at Barnstable Superior Court to killing a Mashpee woman in 2021, according to a release from Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois.

Cleber Mariano, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the death of Danielle Taylor. Judge Mark Gildea sentenced Mariano to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The Barnstable County grand jury indicted Mariano on Dec. 2, 2021.

In a statement, Galibois thanked the Massachusetts State Police and Falmouth Police for their work on the case and also expressed "his deepest sympathies to the family of Ms. Taylor."

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant Jessica Elumba, Assistant District Attorney Dana Hatchell, and Victim/Witness Assistant Deborah McCoy.

Danielle Taylor, of Mashpee, killed in 2021. Cleber Mariano, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in her death Friday.
Danielle Taylor, of Mashpee, killed in 2021. Cleber Mariano, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in her death Friday.

What happened at the Cape Wind Waterfront Resort in 2021?

On Feb. 8, 2021, Falmouth police conducted a well-being check on Cleber Mariano after hearing he had sent text messages and phone calls indicating he was suicidal.

Police went to the Cape Wind Waterfront Resort in Teaticket where they found Danielle Taylor, 30, of Mashpee, strangled on the floor. Mariano was on the bed in a pool of blood and had reportedly tried to kill himself with injuries to his neck and right hand.

Both were taken to Falmouth Hospital where Taylor was pronounced dead. An autopsy found the cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation.

Who was Danielle Taylor?

Members of Taylor's family had previously told the Times the two had dated and had lived at the motel. They were together on and off for ten years and had broken up shortly before Taylor's killing.

Taylor had gone to the motel to collect her belongings. A mother of five, she loved spending time with her children as well as nieces and nephews, family members previously said, and loved to be outdoors and to travel.

She was also taking psychology classes and worked different jobs, including as a certified nursing assistant and as a housekeeper for ShoreWay Acres Inn in Falmouth. One of Taylor's sisters previously told the Times that Taylor had said she'd just finished school for nursing before her death.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Death of Danielle Taylor: Falmouth man pleads guilty. What we know.