When Brian "Driver" Taylor supposedly met Mangum at a Super Bowl party 2 years ago, Carl Brian Taylor was in prison. Of couse, he could be lying.
It's a pain in the a$$ to have to do the media's job for them. Does the driver have a record or not? Does he have a job? Is this the guy or not?
Yes, before I read your post I was wondering about all his criminal history being outside Durham. We don't know.
We don't know.
You made some good points.
Even if this "Carl" is NOT the guy, there's a reason the N&O didn't offer basic information on a critical character in this Nationally prominent case. It also appears they went to lengths to hide his identity, not even listing his age or city of residence. This is no accident.
We can't be sure of his identity without some more information, but a close examination of that News and Observer article reveals that only certain information was provided and most was not revealed. It strains incredulity
to believe that Brian Taylor was not asked if they got high or drank, what time he dropped her off, and if they were intimate that evening.
I think this story has an Oz.