Theresa Williams sat somberly in the gallery of the Cumberland County Detention Center awaiting the arrival Friday of Tyrell Siermons, the man accused of taking the life of her daughter Heather Williams.
Mary Williams was by her mother’s side.
Siermons, 30, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Thursday by Fayetteville police in killing Heather Williams on Jan. 5 after, according to published reports, he drove to her Glendale Acres home and later murdered the 25-year-old woman and left her body at a wooded area near Newark Avenue and State Avenue near Fayetteville State University.
“It was hard,” Mary Williams, 27, said after Siermons’ first appearance before Cumberland County 12th Judicial District Court Judge Tiffany Whitfield, who set his ensuing court date for Feb. 8. “He took Heather from us.”
Siermons appeared in an orange detention jumpsuit with a Cumberland County public defender. Stoic deputies stood nearby.
He appeared calm.
He often cast his eyes toward the floor.
“The defendant has a previous felony conviction,” Jordan Ford with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys in Raleigh told the judge.
Whitfield denied Siermon’s bond.
County deputies escorted him out of the hearing room.
“I’m just so grateful they found my daughter and I just didn’t have to keep wondering,” Theresa Williams said.
Heather Williams is the daughter of former Fayetteville City Council member Paul Williams.
“She had the brightest smile,” Mary Williams said about her little sister, who suffered cognitive impairment issues from an Oct. 12, 2015, motor vehicle accident. “She had a traumatic brain injury. But she was always happy-go-lucky and singing and dancing.”
Mary Williams is an assistant district attorney in Alamance County.
“We trust the police and the DAs,” she said, “and we are grateful to the community who rallied around Heather.” And, she said, for Detective Emad Alrafai and other detectives who investigated.
‘To see his face’
Horace Lamonte McRae sat outside of the detention center.
McRae said he wanted to see Siermons, who McRae says was convicted on Aug. 11, 2017, according to the N.C. Department of Corrections, of trying to kill him and his fiancée in 2016. McRae says he owned a construction business where Siermons was an employee.
“He got fired,” McRae, 69, said. “My superintendent fired him.”
According to the arrest report, Siermons was charged with attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, among others. “Look, I’ve got the scars,” McRae said.
Horace McRae said he wanted to be inside the first appearance hearing for the man accused of killing Heather Williams, and the man who tried to take his life.
“I was trying to get here,” he said, “to see his face.”
Mary Williams says Siermons was released from prison about two years ago. McRae says Siermons was released too soon, and that if he had not been released Heather Williams would be alive.
The homicide of Heather Williams has polarized a community and has been publicized by news outlets including News Nation with Ashleigh Banfield, who interviewed Mary Williams in a telecast Thursday evening from Chicago.
Epilogue
Friday was a difficult day for Theresa Williams and Mary Williams, as only a pane of glass separated them from the man Fayetteville police detectives say killed a daughter and a sister they loved.
You could see the pain and grief in Theresa Williams’ face.
Mary Williams was strong for her mother.
“He will have to stand in judgment one day,” Mary Williams said.
She gave thought to her sister gone too soon as a family prepares for a celebration of Heather Marie Williams’ life scheduled for Feb. 1 at Dominion Church in east Fayetteville.
“I know,” Mary Williams said, “Heather is in a better place.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
Was there a weapon used ? Is there an estimated time of death?
Will case info be available to the public ?
How did this Happen ?
Everyone wants to know ! I pray for justice in this case … big Time …