Welcome to the Family: The Antoinetta McKoy Murder

This episode of Killer Instinct delves into the chilling and disturbing case of Antoinetta McCoy, a 27-year-old aspiring writer from Washington, D.C., whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Durham, North Carolina, in June 2011. The investigation revealed that Antoinette had moved in with her high school sweetheart, Peter Moses, in 2010, only to be thrust into a bizarre and abusive domestic situation where Peter lived with three women—Lovada Harris, LaRonda Smith, and Vanya Sisk—whom he referred to as his 'sister wives.' Peter, who viewed himself as a prophet and god-like figure, demanded absolute control, and Antoinette’s diary entries revealed escalating fear, manipulation, and violence. After Antoinette confessed she could not bear children—a secret she had kept from Peter—tensions exploded. On November 15, 2010, Peter allegedly orchestrated a brutal beating of Antoinette in the garage, forced her into the master bathroom, and ordered Vanya to shoot her. The body was wrapped in plastic, placed in a trash bag, and buried. Police also discovered a birth certificate for Jaden Higginbottom, Vanya’s young son, who Peter admitted to murdering and burying in the backyard. All four individuals were arrested and convicted, with Peter receiving two life sentences without parole, while the women received lengthy prison terms. The episode ends with the host expressing disbelief and outrage at the extreme delusion, control, and violence that led to Antoinette’s tragic death.