Witnesses at Williams Country Kitchen observed the victim jump from the vehicle on U.S. 701.
William Jacoby Singletary has been found guilty of second degree murder.
A Columbus County jury handed down the verdict Thursday morning before Superior Court Judge Claire Hill. The decision took less than two hours. Singletary will spend 31 to 38 years in prison.
In April 2020, Columbus County deputies responding to a call about a domestic dispute in a moving car found Monalisa McMillian, 19, on the edge of U.S. 701 in Williams Township, according to testimony. She had been shot and jumped from Singletary’s car during an argument, District Attorney Jon David said in a press release.
McMillian died after a single .22 bullet perforated her liver, stomach and diaphragm, David said.
“Witnesses at Williams Country Kitchen observed McMillian jump from the vehicle as it was traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour,” David said. “One witness ran into the street to provide aid to McMillian.”
The woman leaped from silver Mazda automobile, ran to a nearby yard and collapsed, David said. A witness called 911.
“First responders arrived within minutes to find Singletary kneeling over McMillian’s lifeless body,” David said. The woman never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional.
Det. Paul Rockenbach testified that he interviewed Singletary on the scene, and the man admitted to arguing with McMillian about “texting other women.” Singletary told the detective that McMillian jumped from the vehicle during the argument.
Another investigator discovered what turned out to be a .22 caliber gunshot wound in McMillian’s back on the left side, David said.
Investigators found a .22 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat, and a spent .22 shell casing. The handgun and cartridge matched the bulletin McMillian, David said.
Singletary was initially charged with a narcotics violation, and the murder charge was added later that day.
Assistant District Attorney Katie Madon and Jacob Ward prosecuted the case.
