Keonna Graham, a 23-year-old African American woman from Leland, North Carolina, was tragically found dead on July 20, 2020, in a hotel room in Shallotte, North Carolina. Her body was discovered with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Keonna worked as a correctional officer at a prison in Burgaw, North Carolina, and was known for her generous and loving nature.
She lived in Navassa, North Carolina, with her mother, LaTrinda Graham, and her 10-year-old sister, Zoey.
The investigation into Keonna's death led to the arrest of Michael Todd Hill, a 52-year-old man from Leland, North Carolina, who had won a $10 million lottery prize in 2017. Hill was charged with first-degree murder after surveillance footage from the hotel showed that he was the only person in the room with Keonna. Hill later confessed to shooting Keonna after discovering that she had been texting other men while at the hotel.
Hill was arrested on July 21, 2020, in Southport, North Carolina, and was held without bond at the Brunswick County jail. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and the State Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation. Hill was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on May 30, 2022. He also received an additional 22-36 months for possession of a firearm by a felon, which runs concurrently with the life sentence.
Keonna's death left her family devastated, and they continue to mourn the loss of their beloved daughter and sister. The case garnered significant media attention due to Hill's previous lottery win and the tragic circumstances surrounding Keonna's death.
