In a rural area just outside of Rock Hill, South Carolina, the quiet of an April afternoon was shattered by the discovery of a man's body. On April 27, 2020, 34-year-old Tony J. Stephens, a Black male from Charlotte, was found deceased near the intersection of Hall Spencer Road and Quaint Lane. He had been fatally shot. The York County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene, and an investigation into the apparent homicide began, with more than 20 deputies, including forensic units, blocking
off the area for several hours.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of a suspect. Law enforcement officials announced they were searching for 49-year-old Corey Jermaine Troupe and had secured a warrant for his arrest on a murder charge. Investigators believed Troupe had fled the area, sparking a multi-state search for him. Details regarding the motive for the shooting or the relationship between Stephens and Troupe were not publicly disclosed by the authorities.
A few days later, the manhunt for Corey Jermaine Troupe came to an end in Miami, Florida. He was apprehended by Miami-Dade police and federal agents. Following his arrest, Troupe was held in the Dade County jail before being extradited back to South Carolina over the July 4th holiday weekend to face the charges against him.
Upon his return to York County, Corey Jermaine Troupe was charged with murder, armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection with the death of Tony Stephens. He was booked into the York County jail and was denied bond during a court hearing. A conviction for murder in South Carolina carries a potential sentence of 30 years to life in prison. The armed robbery charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years, and the weapons charge carries a five-year sentence.
