A Gaston County man has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the 2021 murder of a 38-year-old woman, after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder yesterday. Keon Latroy Pernell, 27, from Garysburg, faced trial for the death of Cherie Shavon Ingram, whose body was discovered in a wooded area near Broad Street in Gastonia. According to a report from WCNC, Ingram was last seen alive on March 27, 2021, and was reported missing on April 7, before her remains were found and identified. The authorities confirmed that she had been stabbed multiple times.
Judge Gregory Hayes presided over the two-week trial that led to Pernell's conviction, who had a prior accusation in October 2020 for attempted first-degree murder in the stabbing of Ingram outside a convenience store. He had posted bond in that case, but later accompanied Ingram to Gastonia. As reported by QC News, Ingram was seen with Pernell at a Gastonia bar shortly before she went missing.
Assistant District Attorneys Megan Rhoden and Zach Holeve prosecuted the case for the state, remarking on the presence of Ingram’s family throughout the trial proceedings, though they chose not to speak at the sentencing. “Today a Gaston County jury delivered a resounding message to survivors of and families affected by domestic violence," District Attorney Travis Page expressed in a statement shared by WCNC, "You are heard, you are seen, and your community will fight for you." He continued, pledging the DA's office commitment to the aggressive prosecution of violent offenders and support for the families of homicide victims.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of domestic violence and the judicial system's response to it. In extending thanks to the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation: the Gastonia Police Department, the Rock Hill Police Department, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, former Det. Linda Baker with the North Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, the DA's office underscored multi-agency collaboration in seeking justice. This was echoed in a statement, obtained by QC News, assuring ongoing support for Ingram's family and others similarly affected by such tragedies.
The conviction of Pernell marks the culmination of a legal process that began with a tragic act and, as reported by WSOCTV, ends with the hope that such a verdict may bring some semblance of closure to those left behind.
