Destine Renee Conyers

Destine Renee Conyers, a 21-year-old woman from the Townville, Pennsylvania, area, was a mother to one son. Those who knew her remembered her with love, calling her by the nickname "Desi Bear" and describing her as a "gorgeous spitfire, with a heart of gold." Friends recalled her as a cheerful, caring, and understanding person who was always trying to help others without judgment.

On the morning of September 27, 2020, a passing motorist discovered Destine’s body at a gravel pull-off on Mule Street, a rural road in Fairfield Township, near Cochranton. Pennsylvania State Police responded to the scene around 8:40 a.m. An autopsy performed by a forensic pathologist determined that Destine had died from two gunshot wounds, one to her head and another to her chest. The Crawford County Coroner officially ruled her death a homicide.

The state police investigation that followed was extensive and complex. Detectives worked for over a year on the case, collaborating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The investigation required them to review cellular phone records and interview numerous witnesses across several counties, including Crawford, Erie, Mercer, and Beaver.

On October 26, 2021, authorities arrested 25-year-old Ragene J. Gilbert of Meadville in connection with Destine's death. He was charged with criminal homicide and possession of a prohibited firearm. At the time of his arrest for the homicide, Gilbert was already in custody on unrelated charges. He was arraigned and held in the Crawford County Jail without bail.

Following his arrest, Ragene Gilbert's case proceeded through the legal system. He was ultimately convicted for the murder of Destine Conyers. In the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, President Judge John Spataro sentenced Gilbert for the crime, bringing the case to a close.