A U.S. Navy officer has been found guilty of the murder of his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to undergo an abortion and insisted on keeping their baby. The body of Virginia woman Raquiah Paulette King, 20, was discovered on the side of a road on July 21, 2022.
Within weeks, investigators identified Navy Lt. Junior Grade Emmanuel Dewayne Coble, 27, as a suspect. He was arrested on August 11, 2022, and later confessed to the fatal shooting and disposing of Raquiah’s body in a wooded area, though he claimed the killing was unintentional.
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According to prosecutors, Coble had taken Raquiah to an abortion clinic, but she ultimately left without undergoing the procedure, choosing instead to continue with her pregnancy. In a chilling premonition, Raquiah had previously told her mother that if anything ever happened to her, authorities should “look at Coble.”
Remembering his daughter, Gregory King said, “She was a ray of sunlight. She was fun, beautiful, courageous, and strong,” adding, “I’m just grateful for everything.” Throughout the legal proceedings, Coble repeatedly attempted to delay the trial. He switched between multiple attorneys, considered self-representation, and ultimately chose to represent himself once the trial commenced, according to WTVR.
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He handled jury selection, delivered his own opening statements, and cross-examined witnesses, while also suggesting in court that attorneys and police were conspiring against him. His erratic behavior did not go unnoticed by the presiding judge, who criticized Coble’s repeated delay tactics and efforts to manipulate the court system.
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“He used lots of delay tactics, continuances to keep this case going and drew it out so it took a lot to bring this case across the finish line,” Hanover Commonwealth’s Attorney Mackenzie Babichenko said following the trial, as reported by WTVR.
After a lengthy and emotionally charged trial, the guilty verdict brought some measure of relief to Raquiah’s grieving family. Her brother, Gregory King, spoke about the emotional impact of the decision.
“To know that that guy thought he was going to get away with it, it just feels good,” he said, according to Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR. “It puts icing on the cake.” The case, marked by shocking betrayal and relentless attempts to evade justice, has left a lasting scar on Raquiah King’s family and community, while ensuring that her story will not be forgotten.
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