Life plus 30 for Murderer and Rapist Peter Lynn Coffey of Gaston for the 2015 murder and rape of Joanne White Taylor. A County of Lexington jury deliberated for an hour and a half before returning the guilty verdict convicting Coffey of murder and criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. The Honorable Knox R. McMahon sentenced Coffey.

Deputy Solicitor Shawn Graham and Assistant Solicitor Bradley Pogue handled the prosecution of this case for the office. Solicitor Hubbard praised his staff and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for their hard work, and stated that “a violent sexual predator has been removed from our streets.”

In August of 2015, a family friend went to Taylor’s home to check on her at the request of Taylor’s mother who had not heard from her in a couple of days. The friend discovered Taylor’s body and called 911. Law enforcement forced entry into the residence and found Taylor beaten to death. An autopsy revealed she sustained approximately twenty-one blows to the head likely with a small sledge hammer that was found covered in blood next to her body.

Evidence showed that she was raped and that it occurred at or near the time of death. Taylor’s blood was also found on a pair of shorts that was collected from Coffey’s washing machine. Coffey’s blood was also found on the shower curtain in Taylor’s house. Taylor and Coffey were acquaintances. Coffey was a registered sex offender.

In opening statements, Assistant Solicitor Bradley Pogue, told the jury that “blood doesn’t lie.” The forensic evidence in this case helped to secure this conviction. During sentencing, Coffey maintained his innocence. He will spend the rest of his natural life in prison for the brutal killing of Taylor.