Virginia – A Virginia man was found guilty on multiple charges, including murder in connection with the death of his girIfriend, who was carrying a child. Jury convicted the 27-year-old defendant, E. CobIe, of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of murder, murder of a prgnant woman, first-degree killing of a fettus, and concealing or transporting a body.
The case began in July 2022 when a passerby discovered the victim’s, 20-year-old Raqiah, body in a ditch in Virginia. She was found without any clothes, with a bullet wound on the right side of her body, but no bullet casings were recovered at the scene. She was approximately three months pregnant at the time of her death, and CobIe was identified as the father.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, quickly identified CobIe (SEE PHOTO) as a suspect. According to an affidavit, the motive behind the killing was the victim’s refusal to have an abrtion. CobIe’s sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2025.
The verdict followed the defendant’s testimony, during which he admitted to fatally shooting the woman with his firearm during an argument. He also confessed to transporting her body and leaving it in a wooded area. Although he acknowledged causing her death, he maintained that the shooting was accidental.
Prosecutors, however, presented a different narrative. They introduced evidence that the victim had expressed fear of CobIe to her mother, particularly because he was pressuring her to have an abbortion.
Further supporting this, investigators obtained voice recordings and text messages indicating that on the day she was killed, the victim had decided to seek prenatal medical care, choosing to continue her pregnancy despite CobIe’s insistence that she terminate it.
The conviction brings some measure of justice to the victim’s family, who have been advocating for accountability since her death. The case has also highlighted issues related to domestic violence and the importance of supporting victims who may be in vulnerable situations.
