Naman Shrestha
In the episode titled ‘Thomas the Terrible’ of ‘Very Scary People,’ the focus is on the 2015 murder of Lisa Amodio Riley, who was shot to death by her husband, Yathomas Riley, a professional boxer. Besides delving deep into the tragic case of the 34-year-old emergency physician, the episode also explores the complicated case of Koketia King, the boxer’s former girlfriend who was shot twice but managed to survive. While Yathomas claimed she shot herself, Koketia had a different side of the story.
Koketia King Survived From Two Gunshot Wounds Allegedly Fired by Her Former Boyfriend
Hailing from Perrine, Florida, Koketia King was a state correctional officer at the Dade Correctional Institution in Florida City when she first met Yathomas Riley, an amateur boxer at the time. At the time, both of them had two children, each from their respective previous relationships. As sparks flew between them, they began dating and moved in together around 2003. A couple of years later, around the holiday season of 2005, she became pregnant with his child. In September 2006, they welcomed their son into the world and named him Yaheim. A few years went by, and their once-loving relationship took a violent turn in mid-2010.
On June 10, 2010, Koketia King was rushed to the hospital after suffering from two gunshot wounds. Though she was severely injured, she thankfully got medical attention and managed to survive. According to Koketia, she and Yathomas got into a heated argument about an unspecified subject. She claimed that when things got out of hand, he pulled out a gun and shot her. However, she gave different versions of the story under oath and reportedly even lied to the authorities about a key piece of evidence. On the other hand, the boxer maintained his innocence and claimed that she shot herself twice when he allegedly caught her engaging in tax fraud on duty inside the jail.
Taking Koketia’s accusations into consideration, the authorities arrested Yathomas for the charge of attempted first-degree murder. Regardless, much to the disappointment of the prosecution, enough evidence couldn’t be gathered against him to take the case to trial. Koketia’s lies and different versions of the story also did not help the case. Thus, after a couple of years of prison confinement, Yathomas was released from prison. However, he would be involved in the murder of his wife, Lisa Amodio Riley, in 2015, for which he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Koketia King Resides in Austin, Texas, With Her Sons
After the shooting incident, Koketia King tried her best to move on with her life. Though it hasn’t been easy, she has managed to build a life she’s proud of. The year 2019 turned out to be a significant year for the former prison guard as she not only relocated to Killeen, Texas but also gave love another chance in December of that year. Ever since then, the Miami Palmetto Senior High graduate has appeared to be in a healthy and loving relationship with her partner. For her birthday in 2019, she also created a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She explained about it, saying, “For my birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal.”
As of today, Koketia is the proud mother of four children — a daughter and three sons. She also has at least two grandchildren, including a 9-year-old grandson named DJ, who also holds a special corner in her heart. She is also blessed with supportive friends and celebrated her birthday in August 2024 in the company of her people. While her daughter, Damela, is in her late 20s, two of her three sons, including Yaheim and Malachi, reside with her in Austin, Texas. A student at LBJ High School, Yaheim is a key player for the LBJ Jaguars Varsity Football team. As a matter of fact, in December 2024, he was named the defensive player of the year in his district, making Koketia proud of him. From what we can tell, Koketia is leading a content life in the company of those she loves and who love her.
Read More: Lisa Amodio Riley Murder: Where is Yathomas Riley Now?
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