Halifax County family celebrates bond hearing as next step in solving 2002 cold case
After more than 20 years, a family is one step closer to justice for the death of Sherald Taylor, who was found dead in her bed in 2002.
At a bond hearing in Halifax County Superior Court, a judge decided the man charged with killing Taylor, Lewis Turner Junior, was not eligible for a lower bond.
Turner Jr. is facing a voluntary manslaughter charge and a $250,000 bond after being arrested in July 2023.
Taylor’s daughter, Justice Ausby, has been looking for answers in her mother’s case for most of her life.
That changed when Sheriff Tyree Davis hired Detective Sgt. Somogyi as Halifax County’s dedicated cold case investigator. Somogyi poured over the case files and interviewed witnesses, and he eventually developed leads that led to the arrest of Turner Jr.
Turner Jr. was someone who was close to the family, and he had been a person of interest in the case for years.
Ausby wants a conviction.
“We have been waiting long enough. 21 years is long enough,” Ausby said.
Ausby appeared in court today after more than 10 visits to the Halifax County Courthouse.
Ausby, who found her mother when she passed, has stuck with the case every step of the way since Turner Jr.’s arrest.
WRAL News has attended court with Ausby and her family many times. Ausby’s son, aunt and cousin have all joined her in court at different times, some of them traveling from more than three hours away to be there.
“Even though the case is old, she still was a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cousin. She was somebody to all of us," Ausby said. "We will drive every day if we have to, but we don’t want to. We want something done."
Ausby said she has arrived in court several times just to find the case has been pushed back or granted a continuance.
When she sees Turner Jr.’s name on the schedule, she returns to court in hopes of getting answers.
"We want to show them we want answers," Ausby said.
Ausby said she has had trouble contacting the Halifax County District Attorney’s office to hear updates on the case.
“I’ve been doing a lot of contact. They tell me they are very busy and that they have a lot of other cases. I do understand that. Please show me that this case means something to you by reaching out to me,” Ausby said.
The defense is currently considering a plea deal that was agreed upon by Ausby.
However, in court, both Turner’s lawyer and Ausby expressed interest in taking the case to trial.
