An elderly couple who were brutally beaten inside their home have died from their injuries almost exactly a week after they were attacked.

Police announced the death of 86-year-old Ann Taylor, whose desperate 911 call alerted authorities to a crime spree in south Kansas City.

Taylor died Tuesday at an area hospital, Kansas City police announced Tuesday afternoon. They said Taylor’s family had notified them of her death.

“Our condolences continue to be with all families involved,” the police department said in a news release.

In a separate news release, the Taylors’ family announced the death of both.

“George and Ann died peacefully and we are blessed that they left this Earth together. They were married more than 40 years, and loved each other dearly,” the statement said. “They lived life fully, and while many might say they were old, they were healthy, vibrant, independent and extremely active in the community – a community they loved and gave back to generously.”

Christine DeWitt, the Taylors’ granddaughter, spoke about how much they loved their family and friends.

“They were wonderful parents, loving grandparents, the best friends you could ask for, kind and caring neighbors and took pride in helping others. We are all better human beings for knowing and loving them,” she said. “While we are devastated to have lost George and Ann today, we want something good to come out of this tragedy and send this message: Love one another; hold your family close; have faith and live life fully – just as they did.”

Relatives of the couple, who became the fourth and fifth homicide victims of the crime spree, were seen taking items from their home on Tuesday. They are now preparing for the couple’s funeral.

Neighbors who learned of George and Ann Taylor’s deaths said they were deeply affected by the news.

“Very sad because I kept hoping that they could come home,” said neighbor Marge Schroeder.

Brandon B. Howell was previously charged with assaulting the couple, brutally beating and leaving them in the basement of their South Kansas City home. He is accused of gunning down the Taylors’ neighbors as they caught Howell trying to steal the Taylors’ antique Jaguar. When he was unable to start the vehicle, he then stole their Toyota Highlander, police said.

Howell, 34, faces 12 charges including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is in the Jackson County Jail and a judge refused to allow him to make bond.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is expected to upgrade the assault charges involving the Taylors to first-degree murder. Baker is likely weighing the death penalty against Howell.

“Be assured that at the appropriate time, today’s sad news of the Taylor’s passing will be reflected in the state’s case against the defendant,” Baker said.

A week ago Tuesday, Ann and George Taylor had been left for dead in their basement, but Ann Taylor managed to get to a telephone and call 911.

“Help,” she told the dispatcher while managing to give her address. “Shotgun.”

And then the line went dead just before 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Suspicious neighbors sought to alert authorities. When Howell couldn’t start the Jag, he allegedly managed to get the keys to the Taylors’ Toyota Highlander.

As he was leaving the neighborhood, the suspect stopped and got out of the SUV. Armed with a shotgun, he confronted Susan Choucroun, 69, who had left her home. Howell allegedly pulled out his shotgun and shot Choucroun once. She collapsed and would die in her own driveway.

Officers arriving at the typically quiet cul-de-sac found the garage doors open to the Taylors’ and Choucroun’s homes. After finding the Taylors desperately clinging to life and Choucroun dead, officers began a door-to-door search for other victims and suspects.

At the home of 88-year-old Lorene Hurst, they found her shot dead along with her 63-year-old son, Darrel, who was visiting her as he did regularly. They were found in the front yard.

Marge Schroeder is left to wonder if the neighborhood will ever be the same again.

“This is overwhelming. It’s horrible, makes me jumpy,” she said.

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Here is the entire statement from Christine DeWitt, the Taylors’ granddaughter.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce George and Ann Taylor died today from the brutal injuries they suffered during the Kansas City, Missouri shootings on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

“We deeply appreciate the community’s support and their outpouring of love, and thank the Kansas City Police Department, first responders and hospital staff for their excellent care and compassion.

“George and Ann died peacefully and we are blessed that they left this Earth together. They were married more than 40 years, and loved each other dearly. They lived life fully, and while many might say they were old, they were healthy, vibrant, independent and extremely active in the community- a community they loved and gave back to generously.

“They were wonderful parents, loving grandparents, the best friends you could ask for, kind and caring neighbors and took pride in helping others. We are all better human beings for knowing and loving them.

“While we are devastated to have lost George and Ann today, we want something good to come out of this tragedy and send this message: Love one another; hold your family close; have faith and live life fully – just as they did.”

A man previously accused in a double murder faces three counts of first-degree murder in connection with a deadly south Kansas City crime spree that left three dead and two injured.

Brandon B. Howell, 34, also faces two counts of first-degree assault and other charges. Charges are expected to come in Platte County after three guests at a Motel 6 were assaulted.

Howell, a convicted felon, used a shotgun he purchased more than five years ago.

Howell was arrested late Tuesday walking along Interstate 29 after a massive manhunt.

Howell is suspected of assaulting three Motel 6 guests after ditching an SUV stolen from the scene where three residents were fatally shot and two others were critically injured after they were nearly beaten to death.

The suspect has an extensive criminal record including first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault and animal abuse charges in both Kansas and Missouri. He beheaded a cat during a home invasion robbery in Johnson County. However, he has not been convicted of all of those accused crimes. He had numerous disciplinary infractions including fighting while serving prison time in Kansas.

On March 9, 2009, a Jackson County jury found Howell not guilty of those first-degree murder charges.

When he was 25 years old, Howell was charged with two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the deaths of Nicholas Travis, 19, of Lenexa, KS, and Tabitha Brewer, 16, of Shawnee, KS. The couple were last seen with Howell leaving her home on April 27, 1998.

Travis’ body was found in the backyard of a Kansas City, MO, duplex on Aug. 12, 1998. Howell’s father owned the duplex and Howell and Travis had both worked there, according to a detective’s probable cause statement. Brewer’s body has never been found.

Three witnesses told authorities that Howell had confessed to killing the couple or had discussed a plan to kill them, according to the statement. The motive may have been a $40,000 settlement that Brewer had received after a car accident, although she was unable to access the money because it was in a trust fund, the statement said.

Then Jackson County Prosecutor Michael Sanders said the charges were made possible by “good, old-fashioned police work,” rather than DNA matching.

Howell was incarcerated at the time at the Lansing Correctional Facility on robbery and assault charges. He was later acquitted by a Jackson County jury.

The shooting spree in south Kansas City began about 1 p.m. Tuesday in a neighborhood on Woodbridge Lane just east of Wornall Road near the Blue Hills Country Club.

The suspect was attempting to steal a Jaguar from the Hurst residence but was having difficulty fleeing in it. One of the victims was shot after confronting the suspect.

The five were found either inside or outside three separate residences. Responding officers and residents were warned the suspect was armed with a shotgun.

The three shooting victims died at the scene. Two other victims were taken to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries. The three dead included one man and two women, police said.

Lorene Hurst was killed along with her son, Darrel, who was making one of his frequent visits to his mother when the tragic events unfolded. Also killed was Susan Choucroun, 69.

Howell was arrested shortly before midnight Tuesday as he walked along Interstate 29 near 72nd Street in the Northland. He was armed with a gun at the time of his arrest, police said.

His arrest occurred about two miles from a Motel 6, 8230 NW Prairie View Rd., where three people had been assaulted about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. No weapon was used, police said, and the victims were not seriously injured.

Investigators later linked Howell to the deadly shooting spree in south Kansas City.

An SUV taken from the homicide scene was found within four blocks of the motel where the assaults occurred, police said.

When officers arrived, they located Howell in dark clothing. He was later identified as the suspect from the earlier assaults at a nearby motel.