True Crime All The Time – Episode 493: Egypt Covington

Release Date: April 30, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike “Gibby” Gibson

Episode Overview

This episode explores the tragic murder of Egypt Covington, an aspiring singer and vibrant presence in her Michigan community, who was killed in her home in 2017. The hosts guide listeners through the details of the case—from Egypt’s background and the initial investigation, to years of stalled police work, the power of advocacy from her family, and, ultimately, the breakthrough that led to the killers’ arrests and convictions. The episode balances profound empathy for the victim and her family with a deep dive into law enforcement techniques, including the controversial use of geofencing technology.

Egypt Covington: Life and Personality (05:20)

• Early Life and Interests

  • Born July 19, 1989, in Detroit; grew up in Belleville, MI.
  • Loved yoga, golf, bow hunting, and singing above all.
  • Winner of Eastern Michigan’s regional Country Idol (2014) and auditioned for The Voice.

• Her Impact

  • She was described by friends and family as the “life of the party” and a “universally loved” person.
  • Quote (03:39):
    “It didn’t matter if you knew her for 10 years or 10 minutes. You wanted to be with her... she made everybody feel so good about themselves.”
    – Kyle Coppock, Egypt’s friend (read by Mike Ferguson)

• Relationships and Work

  • Worked at Fraser’s Pub with her brother Dwayne; famous for their charismatic bartending.
  • Was building a life with boyfriend Curtis Meadows at the time of her murder.

The Discovery and Initial Investigation (07:04 – 14:15)

• Events Leading Up to the Murder

  • June 22, 2017: Egypt attended yoga, texted family and friends—nothing seemed amiss.
  • June 23: Curtis notices the absence of her usual morning text, visits her home, and makes a horrifying discovery (09:00).

• Crime Scene Details

  • Egypt found shot in the back of the head; hands bound by Christmas lights.
  • A couch cushion was used to muffle the gunshot, suggesting intent:
    Quote (11:05):
    “It sounds almost like a hit.” – Mike Gibson

• Family Grief

  • Egypt’s mother and father expressed anguish, guilt, and anger in public statements:
    Quote (12:54):
    “This entity, this animal, this pathetic son of a bitch, whoever could have done that, death isn’t good enough for them.” – Chuck Covington, Egypt’s father

Investigative Missteps, Family Tensions & Suspect Focus (14:15 – 24:40)

• Early Suspects

  • As is typical, focus was on those close to Egypt—including boyfriend Curtis (quickly cleared via polygraph and cooperation) and ex-boyfriend Kenny Michalak (failed polygraph, weak alibi).

• Family Rift

  • Egypt’s mother Tina believed in Kenny’s innocence; her father Chuck supported police focus on him.

  • Tensions rose when Lindsay Brink (Dwayne’s girlfriend) began her own investigation, demanding Michigan State Police (MSP) takeover (20:11).

    Quote (21:44):
    “She didn’t put a flashlight on it. She put a spotlight on it.” – Mike Gibson on Lindsay’s activism

• Three Years of Stalemate

  • By June 2020, with no progress, the family’s pressure forced the local police to hand off the case to MSP.

Breakthrough via Geofencing and DNA Advances (24:40 – 36:58)

• Geofencing: New Technology, New Leads (23:48–27:04)

  • MSP used a "geofence" search to find all cell phones in the area. A phone pinged in Egypt’s home was linked to Shandon Groom, an Ohio man with no known connection.
  • Surveillance footage and subsequent phone tracking built the case.
  • Insightful discussion on both the investigative benefits and the looming privacy issues:
    Quote (31:02):
    “Civil liberties advocates described geofence warrants as dangerous and unconstitutional, unfairly casting everyone within the geofence as potential criminals.” – Mike Ferguson

• DNA Technology

  • DNA found on Christmas lights at the scene was too degraded to analyze in 2017, but by 2020, tech advances led to a match with Timothy Moore.
  • Both Groom and Moore’s movements were tied to the crime scene by phone data.

• Missed Opportunities

  • Van Buren Township police had access to geofencing data but dismissed it because it didn’t match their suspects—demonstrating the dangers of investigational tunnel vision.

The Real Story: Motive and Mistaken Identity (38:12 – 44:55)

• The Burglary Plan Gone Wrong (39:00)

  • Shane Evans, who did yard work at Egypt’s duplex, gave his accomplices (Moore and Groom) directions to rob her neighbor, a registered marijuana grower.

  • The assailants broke into the wrong unit—Egypt’s.

  • Evans claimed he only pointed out the house and did not enter; Moore and Groom tied Egypt and killed her to avoid a witness (Moore had previously been caught due to witness identification).

    Quote (40:26):
    “He didn’t want to leave another witness behind, so he killed her.” – Mike Ferguson on Moore’s motive

Prosecutions, Plea Deals, and Sentencing (44:32 – 51:48)

• Prosecution’s Strategy

  • All three men ultimately pleaded guilty: Shane Evans to second-degree murder, Groom and Moore to second-degree murder.

  • Evans testified against the others, receiving the lightest sentence.

    Quote (47:07):
    “He struck the match which led to the fire that extinguished her.” – Chuck Covington about Evans’ role (read by Mike Ferguson)

• Sentences

  • Shane Evans: 15–25 years (45:46)

  • Shandon Groom: 17–26 years (50:20)

  • Timothy Moore: 20–55 years

  • The hosts question whether these sentences reflect the severity of the crime and echo potential family disappointment.

    Quote (50:20):
    “I think those two are a little light... if Moore gets out in 20, I could see where the family would have a real issue with that.” – Mike Ferguson

• Family Relief vs. Justice

  • Egypt’s family was grateful to avoid a trial and further retraumatization, even if justice felt imperfect. Quote (49:45):
    “You don’t want to hear how your daughter suffered, again and again and again.” – Mike Gibson

Reflections and Final Thoughts (52:03–54:46)

• Loss and Impact

  • Hosts reflect on Egypt’s legacy as a loving, joyful person whose life was senselessly cut short due to a robbery gone awry.

  • The randomness and cruelty of the crime brings home the vulnerability that even our safest spaces can be violated.

    Quote (54:16):
    “She would have touched the lives of a lot more people. And that’s a really sad aspect of it as well.” – Mike Ferguson

• On Motive

  • Both hosts lament the futility of the crime—a woman’s life destroyed for “some pot.” Quote (54:43):
    “All because some guys wanted some pot, man.” – Mike Gibson

Notable Timestamps

• 05:20–07:04 – Egypt’s background, family, and aspirations
• 09:00–10:22 – Curtis discovers Egypt’s body
• 13:45–14:15 – Police declare the crime wasn’t random, examine close associates
• 17:01–19:49 – Ex-boyfriend Kenny’s involvement and family suspicions
• 20:11–21:49 – Family activism and push for police accountability
• 23:48–27:04 – MSP leverages geofence technology
• 35:10–36:58 – DNA advances finally break the case
• 39:00–40:26 – The mistaken-identity burglary plan and fatal error
• 45:46–47:09 – Sentencing, family statements, and the consequences of plea deals
• 49:45–50:20 – Family’s relief at not facing a public trial
• 52:03–54:46 – Reflections on loss and the meaninglessness of the crime

Memorable Quotes

• “It didn’t matter if you knew her for 10 years or 10 minutes. You wanted to be with her... she made everybody feel so good about themselves.”
  – Egypt’s friend (03:39)

• “He struck the match which led to the fire that extinguished her.”
  – Chuck Covington (47:07)

• “All because some guys wanted some pot, man.”
  – Mike Gibson (54:43)

Key Takeaways

• Egypt Covington’s murder was a profound tragedy: a case marked by investigative missteps, family advocacy, and ultimately technological advances.
• The hosts emphasize the dangers of police tunnel vision, the opportunities and threats of investigative technology like geofencing, and the heartbreak for families denied closure.
• Despite guilty pleas and convictions, the sentences leave open questions about justice for Egypt.
• The episode closes with a somber reflection on how Egypt’s bright spirit was lost for reasons both random and incomprehensible—a cautionary tale about fragile safety and the deep ripple effects of violent crime.