In a Wayne County Circuit courtroom, the father of Egypt Covington, a 27-year-old woman from Van Buren Township, addressed the court, calling the two Ohio men who killed her "cowards." This statement came as Shandon Ray Groom, 30, and Timothy Eugene Moore, 37, were sentenced for her murder in 2017.
Van Buren Township, Michigan
Sentencing of the Perpetrators
Shandon Ray Groom was sentenced to 17-26 years in prison, while Timothy Eugene Moore received a sentence of 20-55 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and a felony firearm charge.
Chuck Covington, Egypt's father, expressed his dissatisfaction with the plea agreement, arguing that the defendants should have faced a first-degree murder charge, potentially leading to life in prison without parole. He highlighted the brutality of the crime, stating, "They hogtied - hogtied - my daughter with Christmas lights. They used a pillow... to muffle the sound of the gun. They shot my daughter in the back of the head," emphasizing that it was an "execution."
Sister Jessica Covington called the defendants "subhuman" "monsters" who will have a potential "to breathe fresh air outside of a jail cell, outside of a prison" because of the plea deal. She urged the judge to give Moore and Groom the longest prison sentences possible.
Read also: Unraveling Covington's Murder
Brother D'Wayne Turner focused more on the loss of his sister. "She touched so many people. She was a beautiful person who we'll always remember," Turner told the court, thanking the police, prosecutors and media for attention to the case.
Wayne Circuit Court Judge Wanda Evans encouraged Covington's family members to remember the “lessons” she taught them. Evan said those lessons “can be carried on by you all, to all that you encounter, to all family members, in spite of this horrible, horrific, tragic situation.”
Moore threw the court into disarray when he spoke before the sentencing, apologizing for the family not getting closure but then saying he was "pushed into a plea for something I shouldn't have given a plea."
When the court reconvened, Moore's lawyer said he wanted to go ahead with the plea agreement. Under questioning from Evans, Moore told the court he was accepting the plea deal.
The Discovery and Investigation
Egypt Covington was found on June 23, 2017, bound and shot to death in her home on Hull Road in Van Buren Township. She was last seen alive the day before her body was discovered. She was a singer and worked as an account manager for a wine and beer distributor.
Read also: Justice for Egypt Covington
Groom and Moore were among three suspects charged in her death. Shane Lamar Evans of Sumpter Township also was charged in connection with the slaying. He pleaded was sentenced to 15-25 years in prison.
In 2020, Covington's family pleaded with the public to help find the suspects. A reward was offered before Groom, Moore and Evans were arrested.
"It's hard for a family to go through this," said Tina Covington, with tears in her eyes, at a press conference in 2020.
She’s gone // The Egypt Covington story
Community's Response and Remembrance
More than three years after Covington's death, the arrests brought a sense of closure to her family. D'Wayne Turner expressed relief, stating, "We're definitely going to have a celebration."
Turner and his fiancee, Lindsay Brink, had been actively seeking clues and growing frustrated with the initial investigation by the Van Buren Township police. They urged the State Police to take over the case.
Read also: Unraveling the Egypt Covington Case
Covington was admired and loved by her family and people she worked with. Shortly after her death, she was remembered by hundreds of people who celebrated her life by hoisting a glass of beer at Arbor Brewing Company's microbrewery in Ypsilanti. The brewery honored her with a special beer, A Girl Named Egypt.
Covington's father, Chuck Covington, described the call from the State Police as bringing a flood of emotions, including surprise, shock, and consolation. He remembered his daughter's bright smile and effervescent personality.
The case of Egypt Covington serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime on families and communities. The pursuit of justice, though delayed, brought a measure of closure to those who loved her.
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