The discovery of a child’s decomposed remains near a Georgia church cemetery in the 1990s was a mystery that remained unsolved for over two decades but thanks to the perseverance of a woman who refused to give up, the victim has finally been identified!
It was a case that baffled authorities for more than two decades. The murder of a six-year-old boy, whose decomposed remains were found near a Georgia church cemetery, remained a mystery until recently. But now, justice will be served for William DaShawn Hamilton, as his mother, Teresa Ann Bailey Black, has been charged with his murder.
William’s story began back in the 1990s when his mother, then known as Bailey, lived with him and another family member in Charlotte, North Carolina. But in December 1998, she abruptly withdrew William from school and moved back to the Atlanta area. It was the last time anyone saw the little boy alive.
William’s remains were discovered in a Georgia forested area next to a church graveyard about a year after he vanished. Authorities failed to identify him and establish a connection between him and his mother. But William’s situation wasn’t ignored. As a result of the involvement of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the case gained national attention. Despite everything they did, it seemed as though William would never receive justice.
Then, in 2019, a forensic artist created an image of William, and in 2020, a woman who knew Black and her son was able to identify William and link Black to the boy. The woman had followed her instincts and scoured the internet, making phone calls and talking to anyone who would listen until she found a rendering of William online. She gave investigators the missing piece that helped solve this 23-year-old mystery.
Black was arrested on June 29, 2022, and charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of cruelty to children, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of concealing the death of another. She had almost gotten away with murder, but justice will be served in William’s memory.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said, “For far too long, this precious little boy had no name and no story… William has been identified, and justice will be served in his memory.”
William DaShawn Hamilton‘s case serves as a terrible reminder of the tragedies that some kids must endure. But it also serves as a reminder of the strength of tenacity and grit. Because of the woman who never gave up on finding the truth, William’s tale has been told and he will receive justice.
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