A woman was found dead in Norfolk’s house of a man in the ’21. Your family wants answers

Norfolk, Virginia – a condemned rapist wanted another chance in a trial, but his appeal was dismissed.

Michael Ebong from Norfolk was declared guilty of involuntary homicide after two women appeared dead inside their apartment. He was also convicted of raping a woman at home. All this happened in less than a year from November 2020 to July 2021, prosecutors say.

The case surprised the community and the loved ones of the victims were outraged, including Kelsey Paton’s family, 30.

Look at the previous coverage: Kelsey Paton’s family talks about his loss while the police investigate the man who lived there

2 women die in the same apartment with months apart

Those who knew Paton say that his brilliant spirit illuminated the lives of all who loved her. His tragic death left his family disconsolate.

More than three years later, the Chesapeake family still has so many questions about the night Paton died.

“The only thing I want to know is what happened to my son,” Kathy Paton, Kelsey’s mother, said. “I don’t know how he got it. I don’t know if there was someone else involved, I don’t do it. Knowing anything.”

Paton died of an overdose in the Norfolk apartment in Ebong in July 2021. The family says they do not understand how Kelsey arrived from a bar on 24th Street in the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to Ebong’s house in the Norfolk’s Ocean View neighborhood .

During the Ebong trial, the prosecutors showed images that Ebong took while the victim seemed to be unconscious.

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The family said they thought that some of their questions would be answered in the trial, but many of their questions still remain unanswered. Erin Paton, Kelsey’s sister, said he lies awake at night with different scenarios through his head.

“Nothing will be normal again, but having those missing pieces, it makes it much worse,” said Erin Paton.

They also have questions about who interviewed the police during the investigation and if someone saw something that night.

In November 2020, only eight months before Paton died, Ebong called 911 to inform that Sheena West, 36, died similarly.

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Speaking exclusively with the mothers of the women found dead in the man’s apartment

Both Paton and West died of drugs, including fentanyl and heroine. The loved ones of both women said they did not use drugs like that.

A third woman advanced and identified Ebong as the man who violated her in May 2021, between the death of Paton and West.

Ebong got life in prison for sexually violating and abusing women in May 2021. He was also guilty of two charges of involuntary homicide for the death of Paton and West, receiving 10 years for each one.

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Norfolk Michael Ebong’s rapist speaks exclusively to News 3 after being convicted

The Patons filed a lawsuit against the Norfolk Police Department claiming that Ebong managed to escape from imprisonment for so long because his mother “occupied a position of influence within the Norfolk Police Department.” However, the demand was dismissed.

A family lawyer says they are presenting an appeal.

Ebong tried to obtain an appeal for his convictions, but that was recently denied. His lawyer said they will present another appeal.

While the Patons still yearn for the closure, they say they are trying to remember the good times as they learn to advance without Kelsey.