Lamora Williams, 24, was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole plus 35 additional years after being convicted on 14 charges, including the murder of her two young sons.
The case revolves around a 2017 incident in which Williams claimed she discovered her children dead with burn injuries. Prosecutors, however, argued that she caused their deaths by placing them in an oven.
Williams offered conflicting explanations about the whereabouts of a caregiver that day, while evidence suggested the children were killed sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning. Additionally, the children’s father received a video call from Williams showing the deceased boys, further supporting the prosecution’s case.
Despite Williams’ mother stating she had a history of mental health issues and may have “snapped” following a breakup, the jury found her guilty on all counts.
The October 2017 tragedy unfolded when Williams called 911 just before midnight, reporting that she had returned home to find her sons, Ja’Karter Penn, 1, and Ke’Yaunte Penn, 2, dead with severe burn marks. In a chilling call, she said, “When I came in, the stove was laying on my youngest son’s head, and my other son was on the floor… I just came home from work. I don’t know what to do.”
Williams initially claimed she had left her three children with a caregiver from midday until late evening, only to find the boys dead upon returning and the caregiver missing. Prosecutors maintained that she placed Ja’Karter and Ke’Yaunte in the oven during that timeframe.
During the same period, the boys’ father, Jameel Penn, contacted 911 from work, stating that Williams had shown him the lifeless children over a video call. “She video-called me and showed me this… I think they are really dead,” he recounted.
Evidence presented in court contradicted Williams’ account, leading the jury to convict her of two counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of first-degree child cruelty, two counts of concealing a death, one count of second-degree child cruelty, and one count of providing a false statement.
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