In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 28th, 1992, the quiet streets of Poughkeepsie, New York, became the scene of a shocking crime that has haunted the Hudson Valley region for over three decades. Brian Kaiser, a forty-one-year-old local taxi driver described by those who knew him as a hard-working and fun-loving individual, was found dead in his cab under circumstances that initially appeared to be an accident but were quickly revealed to be a deliberate and brutal execution-style killing.
The discovery occurred on Winnikee Avenue near Harrison Street. Responding to reports of a crashed taxi, police arrived to find Brian’s vehicle had collided with something, leading first responders to suspect a traffic accident.
However, a closer examination revealed the grim reality: Brian had been shot in the back of the head. The wound was consistent with an execution-style shooting, suggesting a targeted or opportunistic act of violence rather than a random mishap.
Brian, who made his living driving a cab in the Poughkeepsie area, was likely on duty during the overnight or early morning hours when the attack occurred. Taxi drivers in the early 1990s often faced heightened risks, particularly during late-night shifts when passengers could include individuals under the influence or those with criminal intent.
Investigators theorized that robbery was the most likely motive. The perpetrator may have posed as a fare, entered the cab, and then carried out the shooting before fleeing, possibly taking any cash or valuables Brian had on him from fares collected that night. No witnesses came forward to report seeing suspicious activity around the cab or the crash site, and there were no immediate leads pointing to a specific suspect.
Despite initial investigations by local authorities, no arrests were ever made, and the murder remains unsolved. Cold case initiatives and public appeals have occasionally brought renewed interest, but no breakthroughs have emerged.
Crime Immemorial 