Lamora Williams: Woman Kills her Children then Puts Them in the Oven
Lamora Williams in Court facing murder charges over the deaths of her two sons. Photo: TheNetline
In October 2017, Lamora Williams became overwhelmed with motherhood, placed two of her children in the oven, then turned it on high.
Who is Lamora Williams?
1-year-old Jakarter Penn and 2-year-old Keyounte Penn who were murdered by their mother, Lamora Williams. Photo: 5News
Lamora Williams was a 24 year old woman living in SW Atlanta at the time of the murders.
Jameel Penn, the boys father, told journalists that Lamora's parents believed that she had been suffering from a mental illness since her birth. Brenda Williams, the mother of the children's father, stated that Lamora had difficulty learning and exhibited disturbing behavior such as cutting off dolls' heads.
Penn claimed that Lamora's mental state worsened after her father's death in 2014, which was a significant loss for her. Brenda Williams attempted to gain custody of the children after Lamora's boyfriend left her.
Lamora had her first child at the age of 18, and the child's father's family helped raise her. Later, she began dating Jameel Penn and had three children with him.
Jameel ended the relationship in 2017 but continued to provide financial support and help with raising the children. Brenda Williams foresaw tragedy following the breakup, stating that Lamora was unstable and likely to harm the children and herself.
A relative of Williams claimed that Lamora had postpartum depression.
Brenda attempted to obtain custody of the children or alert the authorities to remove them from Lamora's care. She contacted the Division of Family and Children services, expressing worries about Lamora's mental health and alleging that she was neglecting to feed the children.
Lamora's sister, Tabitha Hollingworth, corroborated Brenda's concerns, saying that Lamora frequently left the toddlers unattended at home. Tabitha added that Lamora had issues and that the state's failure to assist her was problematic. She further disclosed that Lamora had previously attempted suicide.
Lamora Williams Kills her Children
Lamora contacted her close friend Neesa Smith on October 13, 2017, and informed her in distress that she could no longer handle the situation and that her two youngest children were dead.
Neesa urged Lamora to notify the authorities, but instead, she contacted Jameel before dialing 911.
During her conversation with the emergency operator, Williams repeatedly expressed her fear of being jailed for her children's deaths while she was at work.
Lamora appeared to hold her cousin accountable for her children's deaths, claiming that she had left her children unattended in the house and that her oldest child was the only survivor.
After finally providing her location, Lamora stated that she discovered her deceased babies inside the oven and then accused her sister, who she previously identified as her cousin, of being responsible for their deaths. "My sister was taking care of my kids and left them dead in the house," Lamora asserted.
Community Reaction to the Deaths of 1-year-old Jakarter Penn and 2-year-old Keyounte Penn
The funeral of Jakarter Penn and Keyounte Penn. Photo: King5
The local community in Atlanta held a vigil in honor of the two boys after news broke of the murders. The community came together to support Jameel Penn and his remaining child.
The funeral service for the two murdered boys was entirely donated by Willie Watkins, a funeral director, who felt called to do so by God. Southview Cemetery also donated a plot for the boys.
According to Watkins, the cost of a eulogy by Dr. Martin Luther King's great nephew and a plot at the oldest black cemetery would have been significant.
Watkins emphasized that his decision to donate the services was not about money but about ministry and giving back to the family in their time of need.
As the boys could not be viewed, Watkins wrapped the casket in pictures of them and their favorite superheroes. The boys' father was able to give them a final kiss before they were taken away by a carriage of white horses.
Is Lamora Williams in Jail?
Lamora's family had concerns that she was capable of committing the murders. Brenda expressed her thoughts, stating, "My daughter is a sick person if she did what I think she did," while Tabitha responded affirmatively when asked if she believed Lamora could murder her two children.
A grand jury indicted Lamora on various charges, including murder, making false statements, aggravated assault, concealing a death, and cruelty to children. The latter charge was filed because Lamora's three-year-old son was present in the house when his siblings passed away.
The medical examiner reported that the boys did not have broken bones or signs of blunt force trauma, but their bodies were damaged by the electric oven.
Law enforcement suspected that Lamora used the oven to hide the murder's method. There is no news on whether Lamora was found guilty as there are no updates on the trial.
Considering the doubts about her mental state, it is possible that the court found her unfit to stand trial, and she may have been committed to a psychiatric facility or hospital.
