Mother Who Lived with Her Murdered Son’s Bodies, Then Abandoned Her Children, Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison

texas mom A man who left his three children in a home to live with the decomposing remains of his slain 8-year-old brother was punished for his role in the boy’s death, authorities said.

Gloria Williams, 38, was sentenced to 50 years in prison in October after pleading guilty to a charge of injury to a child in connection with the death of her 8-year-old son, Kendrick Lee, at the family’s Houston apartment. The prosecutor’s office made a statement newsletter It was shared on Wednesday, November 13.

In April, Williams’ husband, Brian Coulter, 34, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for beating the boy to death in late 2020. prosecutors said.

“We expect parents to protect their children, not to harm them, because children are truly our most vulnerable victims,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in the press release. “This case shocks the conscience not only because of the loss of a child’s life, but also because of the parents’ complete disregard for human life.”

According to the statement, the two brothers testified during Coulter’s trial that they saw Coulter beat Kendrick multiple times. After the child died in late 2020, Coulter covered up the body and she and Williams moved to a different apartment, while the child’s three siblings were forced to stay behind, prosecutors said.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in October 2021, Williams’ 15-year-old son called police to report that his brother “had been dead for a year and his body was in the room next to his.” he told reporters In that case.

The child’s skeletal remains were covered with a blue blanket inside the apartment, prosecutors said in the statement.

“The apartment was in terrible condition. We saw dirty carpet, no furniture. No bedding or blankets as far as we could see. We saw cockroaches and flies, and it was a very bad situation for everyone to live in,” Gonzalez said. previously reported.

One press conference Lt. Dennis Wilford, who announced the charges in 2021, called Coulter “manipulative” but said Williams still bears responsibility for her son’s death.

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As part of Williams’ plea agreement, Williams requested that the children never have to testify about the death again, according to the press release. According to the district attorney’s office, Williams will need to serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

“By pleading guilty and waiving her right to a jury trial, the defendant ultimately acted as a protective mother,” prosecutor Edward A. Appelbaum said, according to the statement. “She was a good mother for one day in her children’s lives.”

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The helpline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.