William Lenwood Coley III, a 26-year-old male, was found dead on November 8, 2020, in Maple Hill, North Carolina. According to the autopsy report, Coley died from a single gunshot wound to the head at contact range. His body was discovered inside the tree line adjacent to his driveway. Tire and shoe prints were found in an area of dirt in the yard, and there was a trail of blood in the grass leading to where Coley was found.
The investigation revealed that there appeared to be forced entry into the home, but there were no signs of burglary or suicide.
On the same day, the body of 22-year-old Destiny Denise Greene, who was seven months pregnant, was also found inside the home. Greene, a female, died from a gunshot wound to the head while in her bed. A 0.9 MM casing was found near her body. The investigation report indicated that Greene was last known alive by friends shortly after midnight on November 8. Later that day, a certified nursing assistant found Greene's body while stopping at her home for a scheduled pregnancy visit. A 911 call was made, and officers from the Pender County Sheriff's Office and Pender Emergency Medical Services responded to the home at 417 John Pickett Road for an emergency medical call.
The investigation into the deaths of Coley and Greene led to the arrest of Michael Legage Miller Jr., a 28-year-old male. Miller was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of murder of an unborn child in connection with the homicides. Miller did not receive bond and was assigned a court-appointed capital defender. The Pender County Sheriff's Office, the agency leading the investigation, received numerous tips regarding the case, but those leads were exhausted, and the case was considered unsolved for some time. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also actively assisted in the investigation and offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or people involved.
In December 2023, Michael Legage Miller Jr. was sentenced to life without parole in connection to the triple homicide. Miller was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder by a Pender County jury. During the sentencing, Miller expressed his apologies to his family as he exited the courtroom. The sentencing took place in the Frances Dawson Basden Judicial Annex in Burgaw. The case remains a significant event in the Maple Hill community, highlighting the tragic loss of life and the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.
