DURHAM, N.C. — A jury has convicted a former high school football player in connection with the murder of a 23-year-old Franklinton man.
Matthew Taylor was charged with the first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery of Sean Owen.
Prosecutors say Taylor and two others -- Shelton Epps and Derrick Maiden -- strangled and beat Owen and then shot him twice in the head before dumping his body in the Eno River in February 2004.
Taylor was given an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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