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Lincoln woman found guilty of
first degree murder
[August 01, 2026]
On July 30, 2026, a Logan County
jury found Cierra Coker (d.o.b.: 1-29-02), of the 300 block of 1ST
Street, Lincoln, Illinois, guilty of two counts of First Degree
Murder.
During a nine-day trial, Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley M.
Hauge and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan McKay presented
evidence that on February 6, 2022, Coker was babysitting Sophia
Davis and two other young children while the children’s father, and
Coker’s then-boyfriend, was at work. Coker contacted Sophia’s mother
later that day to say Sophia was bleeding from the mouth and not
responsive. By the time first responders arrived, Sophia was
unconscious and showed no signs of life. Sophia never recovered and
was declared dead two days later at St. John’s Hospital in
Springfield, Illinois. An autopsy determined Sophia died from
traumatic brain injury caused by blunt force trauma to the head, and
her death was deemed suspicious. Coker was arrested on February 23,
2022 and charged the next day with first degree murder.
The Logan County State’s Attorney co-prosecuted this case with the
Attorney General’s Office, following an investigation by the Lincoln
Police Department, the Department of Children and Family Services,
and records review by the Pediatric Resource Center in Peoria,
Illinois.
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“This case was about Sophia Davis –
a happy and healthy young girl who had her life taken from her. She
was loved and she is missed. Justice would be the ability to bring
her back, but we cannot do that for her. Instead, we were able to
prove that Cierra Coker acted out of anger and took Sophia’s life;
that Sophia did nothing wrong; and that she did not pass because of
a disease or natural causes,” said Hauge. “I want to express my
admiration for Sophia’s sister who testified in the trial. I cannot
imagine the courage it took for her to testify in front of everyone
and relive the worst day of her life, in front of the person who
caused it. My heart is also with Sophia’s mother and father and
extended family.”
“Sophia Davis should be alive
today, and this verdict does not lessen the pain her absence causes
her family and loved ones,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.
“Today’s verdict means justice can finally be served for young
Sophia and her family as they continue to heal from something no
family ever wants to live through. I appreciate the professionalism
and collaboration with the Lincoln Police Department and Logan
County State’s Attorney to ensure Cierra Coker was held
accountable.”
Coker will be sentenced October 6, 2026.
[Provided by Bradley Hauge
Logan County State's Attorney]
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