On April 3, 2016, 32-year-old Cory Coyner was found deceased in an Albuquerque apartment, located in the 8900 block of Jefferson NE. His body was discovered in the bathroom, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The discovery prompted a swift investigation by local authorities.
Within days, law enforcement arrested three individuals in connection with the murder: William York, 30; Michele Freer, 46; and Steve 'Maliq' Swayne, 25.
York was apprehended in Santa Fe County on unrelated charges, while Freer was arrested by Bernalillo County detectives. Swayne was initially at large but was captured shortly after.
The investigation revealed that York and Swayne had conspired to kill Coyner due to a dispute over stolen firearms and an unpaid debt. York was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, receiving a life sentence with a mandatory 30 years before becoming eligible for parole, plus an additional 18 years. Swayne pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence.
In February 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court upheld York's convictions and sentence, affirming the legal proceedings and the severity of the penalties imposed.
