In an unimaginably disturbing case of child abuse and neglect, a Texas woman was sentenced to 50 years in prison for forcing her children to live in an apartment with the rotting body of their deceased 8-year-old brother for over a year.
Horrific circumstances
According to court records, Gloria Williams, 38, kept her son Kendrick Lee’s body in their dirty, roach-infested apartment for months after her boyfriend, Brian Coulter, beat him to death.
Three of Williams’ other children, who were 7, 10, and 15 years old at the time, were left alone while the body slowly broke down.
When police finally found the horrible scene in October 2021, they said it was “the most disturbing” case they had ever worked on and that it was “too horrific to be real.”
The three children who were still alive were found to be thin, hungry, and malnourished after being left alone for a long time.
Legal proceedings
Williams plead guilty to two counts of hurting a child in October 2022. During the nearly two-day sentencing hearing, her lawyers tried to put the blame on Coulter, her boyfriend, who was given a life sentence without the chance of parole for killing Kendrick.
But in the end, the judge gave Williams a 50-year prison sentence.
Williams gave up her parental rights after she was arrested. Since then, the two younger siblings have been adopted, and the oldest is now in foster care.
Community response
The shocking nature of this case has shocked people in the area, with many expressing outrage and shock at the severe abuse and neglect the children witnessed.
“As a parent, I can not understand how anyone could put their own kids through such horrible trauma,” said Sarah Watkins, who lives in the area. “I feel terrible for these kids because they have been through so much hell.”
Call for reform
The case has brought up old concerns about possible flaws in child welfare systems and the need for stronger protections for kids who are at risk. Supporters want more money and training so that people can find and help victims of severe neglect and abuse.
This story is a stark reminder of how important it is to be alert and have support in your community to stop terrible tragedies like this from happening. If you think a child is being abused or neglected, please call the police right away.