SEATTLE — Former Seahawk Chad Wheeler was found guilty by a King County jury on two counts of assault for the beating of his then-girlfriend Alleah Taylor in 2021.
Taylor says she thought she was going to die that night in 2021. She says it’s been a long road to get to this decision by a jury and hopes it’s encouraging to all survivors of domestic violence.
“It took me a while to like fully process it because it’s been going on for so long, I’m finally feeling that freeing feeling like I don’t have to feel so nervous,” Taylor said.
Then-Seahawk Chad Wheeler was arrested in January of 2021 – court documents allege he choked and beat Alleah Taylor during a “manic episode” inside a Kent apartment building.
“That night he just decided to take his rage out,” said Taylor.
According to court records, officers found Taylor “covered in blood and her left arm was limp against her body” and reportedly told police she thought she had already died. Taylor survived – only to see her name released in tabloids and across social media.
“I was like ‘Okay, so this is out’ and I’m like ‘Okay how do I want to handle this,’ do I want to hide away and keep this under the rug and then he gets away with it and then other people are also hurt or do I want to just step up?” Taylor said.
The court process took nearly three years. On Thursday a jury found Wheeler guilty of both first- and second-degree assault – he faces a minimum of five years in prison.
“I think it’s sometimes a bit difficult, especially when holding someone accountable, a person of power someone popular like that in the NFL holding them accountable can have a lot of pressures on you – so first and foremost I would say be present with how you feel. Don’t feel guilty or be too mindful of what other people’s feelings are about the situation be present with yourself,” she said.
Taylor sees that night in Kent as a turning point in her life. Today she’s thriving as a model, works in the medical field and perhaps most importantly, is an advocate for domestic violence survivors.
“I just want to break the cycle. I come from a long line of women that have dealt with domestic violence and I just feel like it just needs to end.”
Wheeler was released by the Seahawks the day after his arrest in 2021. In a statement released at that time, the organization said they were “saddened” by the details emerging around the case and “strongly condemn this act of domestic violence” and urged Wheeler to “get the help he needs.”