Kalamazoo murder victim's ex-boyfriend violated restraining order 8 days before killing
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A 27-year-old man is charged with open murder for his alleged role in the death of Taylor Dragicevich, who according to police, was brutally stabbed multiple times, including the face. Police said the murder happened outside her mother’s Emerald Park apartment Saturday.
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The man has been identified as 27-year-old Jeffrey Kucharski.
Friends and family of Dragicevich told News Channel 3, Dragicevich had just gotten out of an eight-year relationship with her boyfriend Jeffrey Kucharski the first week of March.
After the breakup, Kalamazoo County Court records show Dragicevich and her ex-boyfriend were exchanging items when he pulled out a razor blade and said he was going to kill himself, according to Dragicevich.
In the documents, Dragicevich admitted she was afraid he was also going to attack her.
Friends and family told News Channel 3, Dragicevich often feared for her life when she was with Kucharski, which led to the filing of a restraining order on March 8, 2023.
Less than two weeks before Dragicevich was killed, a friend who does not want her identity revealed, says Kucharski showed up at her job, violating the restraining order.
“She froze, she panicked and didn’t know what to do, she just got out of there," the friend said.
Dragicevich's friend said home security cameras caught Kucharski at her home later that night.
“There are prints on the window where it looks like someone wiped it to look through," the friend said. "She was terrified, I was just trying to keep it together with her.”
Kalamazoo County Jail records show Kucharski was arrested the day after the incident on May 10, 2023.
According to jail records, Kucharski was released May 11, 2023.
Security cameras revealed he went back to Dragicevich's house again at 4:30 a.m. May 12, right after he was released.
“I walked down there and whispered her name and the first thing she said is, is he here," the friend said. “She was constantly living in fight or flight.”
Dragicevich's friend says she called 911 immediately.
Police arrived soon after to look for him, but Dragicevich's friend says they never heard back with an update.
Eight days after the incident, Dragicevich was killed on May 20, 2023.
“I feel like everyone did what they were supposed to do, except law enforcement," the friend said. "I feel like I was failed, like she was failed, we did everything we were supposed to do. I thought we relayed to them how afraid we were, but I guess not.”
Dragicevich worked at Wenke Greenhouses.
Co-owner Lisa Ambrosio said they installed security cameras specifically to protect Dragicevich from her ex-boyfriend.
Friends and coworkers told News Channel 3, Dragicevich called police every time officers changed their shifts to remind them about the restraining order.
