Man convicted of killing cousin with crossbow and dumping her body and car in a lake

GASTONIA, N.C. (TCD) -- A South Carolina man was found guilty this week of killing his cousin by marriage with a crossbow and dumping her body in a nearby lake.

Queen City News reports a Gaston County jury took less than an hour to convict James Michael Rick of first-degree murder for the death of Joyce Rick.

According to the Gaston Gazette, James killed Joyce on May 4, 2019. He was reportedly trying to kill his girlfriend, Melinda Robinson, because he thought she stole his drug money. Robinson and Joyce were reportedly in a car together when James pointed the crossbow at Robinson. She reportedly moved back, and the weapon struck Joyce, the Gaston Gazette reports.

James and Robinson reportedly drove to Lake Wylie with Joyce’s body and put her car in the water, then drove to South Carolina.

According to the Gaston Gazette, neither James nor Robinson called 911 after Joyce’s death. James reportedly admitted during the trial to using drugs.

On the night Joyce was killed, he reportedly sent a text message to someone that reads, "God forgive me for what I’m about to do."

James was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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