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By LANCE MARTIN

rr.spin.com

HALIFAX – A Jackson man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in a nearly 21-year-old case, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrest of 46-year-old Lewis Turner Jr. comes after Sheriff Tyree Davis hired Detective Sergeant Rich Somoygi in January to begin investigating cold cases and assist the criminal investigations division in any new homicide or missing persons case, Captain Scott Hall said.

In Weldon on August 16, 2002, Sherald Moneak Taylor, 23, was found dead in her bed by her 7-year-old daughter. “The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident and it was later determined to be a homicide by the medical examiner’s office,” Hall said. “The incident was investigated until all leads were exhausted.”

Repeatedly reviewed for new leads or information, the case was later considered cold.

During his review of cold cases, Somogyi identified a possible suspect and pursued leads in Taylor’s death.

Over the past several months, Somogyi developed additional leads which led to the issuance of a warrant for Turner’s arrest. Turner was a friend of Taylor and her family at the time of her death.

Turner was located in Halifax on Friday of last week by Corporal A. Holt and deputies M. Way and J. Snyder.

He was jailed on a $250,000 secured bond and has a July 25 court date.

“We are honored to bring some closure and justice to the Taylor family,” said Davis. “The sheriff’s office continues to investigate all unsolved murders and missing persons cases in Halifax County to bring closure and justice to the victim’s families.”

(Lance Martin is the Editor and Publisher of www.rrspin.com. This story is published with permission.)