A U.S. Navy officer was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of his pregnant girlfriend, Raquiah King, after she refused to undergo an abortion.
The case underscores how abortion does not empower women – by puts power in the hands of men who pressure or coerce their wives or girlfriends to have abortions.
Emmanuel Coble, 30, was found guilty by a Hanover County jury of multiple charges, including first-degree murder, the premeditated killing of King’s unborn child, concealing a body, and using a firearm in a felony. The verdict came after a trial marked by Coble’s attempts to represent himself and claims of conspiracy, which the court dismissed as manipulative tactics.
King, 20, was 12 weeks pregnant when her body was discovered on July 21, 2022, in a ditch near Greenwood and Winns Church roads in Hanover County. She had been shot in the back, and her body was left naked with no bullet casings found at the scene, according to court documents. An affidavit revealed that Coble had driven King to a Virginia Beach abortion clinic the day before her death, where she chose to keep her baby, a decision that prosecutors said fueled Coble’s motive.
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Court records detailed a troubled relationship, with King texting her mother about fears that Coble, who did not want to be a father, might harm her. On July 20, 2022, King sent her mother a sonogram photo confirming her pregnancy and expressed concerns about Coble’s reaction. Voice recordings and text messages presented at trial showed King had sought medical care to continue her pregnancy, defying Coble’s wishes.
“Raquiah was a ray of sunlight—fun, beautiful, courageous, and strong,” her brother, Gregory King, told WTVR. “To know that guy thought he was going to get away with it, it just feels good. It puts icing on the cake.”
Prosecutors described Coble’s actions as calculated, noting he admitted to shooting King and dumping her body but claimed it was an accident. Hanover Commonwealth’s Attorney Mackenzie Babichenko emphasized the case’s challenges, citing Coble’s “delay tactics” and attempts to “game the system” by switching between attorneys and self-representation.
Coble faces life in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for July 18. The case has drawn attention from pro-life groups, who argue it reflects broader societal pressures on women to have abortions and the need for stronger protections for both mothers and unborn children.
King’s family, supported by community advocates, expressed relief at the verdict.
“She stood up for her baby, and that strength will never be forgotten,” said Rachel Pender, King’s mother.
For those experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting “START” to 88788.
