On October 25, 2014, authorities in Kokomo, Indiana, were called to a residence where they discovered the body of 45-year-old Corey Lee Story. A male caregiver by profession, Story was found unresponsive on the floor of the master bedroom in the home of Tommie Hammock Jr., a paraplegic man for whom he provided assistance. Law enforcement officials observed that Story had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the back and another to the back of the head.
Investigators noted that there were no signs of forced entry into the home or indications of a struggle, though two spent shell casings were recovered near the body.
As the investigation unfolded, detectives began to probe the personal life of the victim, uncovering a complex web of relationships connected to his employment and living situation. It was revealed that Story had previously been romantically involved with 56-year-old Cynthia Coates, a family friend of the man Story cared for. Story had lived with Coates and her husband, who also required care due to medical issues, for several years. However, the relationship between Story and Coates had deteriorated, leading Story to end the romance and move out of their shared residence just weeks prior to his death. Witnesses later reported that following the breakup, Story had expressed fear for his safety, telling a new girlfriend that he believed Coates might harm him.
Suspicion coalesced around Coates after police received a critical anonymous tip that directed them to a local cemetery. Following this lead to the grave of Coates's deceased granddaughter, investigators unearthed a cache of incriminating evidence buried at the site. The buried items included a pair of latex gloves and the keys to Corey Story's car. Ballistic evidence further tied the crime to the household; the. 38 caliber weapon used in the shooting was identified as a firearm that had gone missing from the collection of Tommie Hammock Jr.
Cynthia Coates was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the homicide. Although she was originally scheduled to stand trial for murder, the legal proceedings took a turn in October 2016. Just days before her trial was set to commence, Coates entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter, a Class A felony. Consequently, a judge sentenced her to serve 20 years in prison for the killing of Corey Lee Story.
