A Mississippi woman who helped her boyfriend kill his rape accuser in 2019 was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison.
Celeste McDonald was reported missing from Jackson, Mississippi on April 1, 2019, a day before her body was discovered in a marshy area in Mound, Louisiana. McDonald had accused Ryan Hopkins of sexual assault — and Hopkins slit her throat when he and his girlfriend, Yolanda Torns, failed to convince her to recant her claims, according to WJTV.
Torns helped Hopkins dump McDonald’s body in Louisiana. On the day of the slaying, Hopkins and Torns got married so they would not be compelled to testify against one another, WLBT reported.
McDonald’s family told the news outlet that she went to police about the sexual assault but her allegations were not taken seriously. After detectives had McDonald get a rape kit, Hopkins messaged her begging her not to press charges.
“I have a daughter. I don’t need to go back to jail. I have a family,” he allegedly wrote.
Torns — who has since divorced Hopkins — was convicted of second-degree murder. As long as Torns cooperates with prosecutors, she will serve only 25 years of her 40-year sentence. She was also ordered to complete five years of probation following her release.
Hopkins, who was extradited to Mississippi last month, remains jailed as he awaits trial.
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[Feature Photo: Ryan Hopkins/Hinds County Detention Center; Celeste McDonald/Facebook]
