NORFOLK, Va. - The man accused of drugging, raping, and killing women in Norfolk has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and raping a third woman.
Jury deliberations were underway Friday for 4.5 hours.
The trial has been going on all week.
Loved ones of the victims told News 3 they are happy that Michael Ebong was found guilty of rape and involuntary manslaughter, but disappointed it was not a murder conviction for the deaths of Kelsey Paton and Sheena West.
Prosecutors alleged that he did not intentionally try to kill the women but rather drug them in an effort to sexually assault them. They showed pictures from his cell phone of the women partially clothed to the jurors. The defense argues that there’s no evidence to prove that he is the one that gave the women the drugs.
Sheena and Kelsey both had heroin and fentanyl in their systems, according to testimony in court. West was found dead in Ebong’s apartment on November 15, 2020. Paton was found dead in the same apartment in July 11, 2021. Both women died of drug overdoses, however, loved ones of both women say they were not drug users.
Kelsey Paton's mom Kathy previously told News 3 that she is happy that Ebong is in jail and can't hurt anyone else. She said she is glad that he is finally faced charges. She said her concern is about how long it took for him to face charges and how previous cases against him were handled.
He was also accused of raping a third woman who testified about being drugged and waking up in his apartment.
While Norfolk Police were investigating the deaths of the two women in the city they discovered alleged criminal activity unrelated to the incidents.
Ebong was also arrested for rape in an alleged incident that happened in May 2021.
News 3 previously uncovered court documents in this case that state he’s accused of drugging the victim, taking her to his place and allegedly raping her. The documents say they suspect this to be a "pattern and not an isolated incident."
Ebong was previously charged with rape, object sexual penetration and abduction.
Now, on January 5, a grand jury certified four charges against Ebong:
- Intercourse through mental incapacity or helplessness (offense date May 22, 2021)
- Object sexual penetration by force, threat, etc. (offense date May 22, 2021)
- Non-capital second-degree murder (offense date Nov. 15, 2020, victim Sheena West)
- Non-capital second-degree murder (offense date July 11, 2021, victim Kelsey Paton)
"The two non-capital second-degree murder charges were direct indictments, while the first two charges were certified in Ebong’s preliminary hearing," according to the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney's Office.
On Friday, the jury found Ebong guilty on lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of West and Paton and raping a third woman.
Ebong could face life for the rape charges and 10 years for each involuntary manslaughter charge. Sentencing is scheduled for December 29 at 11 o’clock in the morning.
