WHITEVILLE — William Singletary was found guilty of second degree murder by a Columbus County jury Thursday afternoon, according to District Attorney Jon David.
Singletary, of Bladenboro, was sentenced to between 31 years and 38 years by Superior Court Judge Claire Hill for the shooting death of MonaLisa McMillian two years ago, the District Attorney’s office said.
According to testimony at trial, witnesses at Williams Country Kitchen off U.S. 701 in Columbus County saw McMillian jump from a silver Mazda 6 that was traveling about 55 mph on April 28, 2020. She leapt from the roadway, ran to a neighboring yard and collapsed.
First responders arrived to find Singletary kneeling over McMillian’s lifeless body, according to testimony. She never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Detective Paul Rockenbach interviewed Singletary at the scene. Singletary told the officer that he and McMillian were in a dating relationship and had been arguing about Singletary texting other women. Singletary said that McMillian jumped from the car during the argument.
It was later determined that McMillian had sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of her back. A medical examiner testified that the gunshot had perforated McMillian’s liver, stomach and diaphragm and it resulted in her death.
Singletary was arrested at the scene of the incident, according to the District Attorney’s office. A search of his vehicle found a .22 caliber pistol and a spent .22 caliber shell casing that ballistics testing later showed matched the bullet found in McMillian’s body.
The jury took less than two hours to return its verdict.
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