Man gets life in prison for raping, murdering Columbus Co. woman


COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A young man will spend the next few decades behind bars. Riley Conner, now 18, was only 15 when he raped and murdered Felicia Porter.

Conner pleaded guilty to raping and killing his aunt, Felicia Porter.

At his sentencing hearing Thursday, the District Attorney’s Office asked the judge to give Conner life in prison without parole. Conner is guilty of first degree forcible rape and first degree murder.

Conner raped and killed Porter at her home in Tabor City in 2016. Police say Conner beat Porter to death with a shovel. They found her body just feet from her home in a wooded area on March 12.

Conner was sentenced to 20 to 25 years for first degree rape, and life in prison with possibility of parole for first degree murder.

“Well we were asking for life, but he might get life. The only good thing that would come out of this, would be for him to get saved and live for God,” Barbara Johnson said.

Johnson was Porter’s aunt. She and other family members came to the hearing. Porter’s family says they are as satisfied with the sentence as they could be.

“It’s not what we really wanted, but we’re satisfied with it. It won’t bring Felicia back, but at least we know that he’s not getting off,” said Johnson.

Conner will serve both sentences back to back. He will have the opportunity for parole after serving twenty five years of his life sentence.

Categories: Columbus, Local

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