The fate of a Florida man was decided in a death penalty case for the brutal murder of wife.
The victim was stabbed 19-20 times. She was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.
After a two-day sentencing hearing, a Flagler County jury voted 11-1 in favor of the death penalty for Jermaine Williams Sr. for the First-Degree Murder of his wife.
On August 2, 2024, Williams stabbed his wife in the street outside of their Bunnell home. The victim’s 14-year-old son witnessed the stabbing and tried to intervene. The defendant’s father, who lives nearby, happened upon the scene and held Williams at gunpoint until he stepped away from the victim.
Surveillance video captured the defendant going inside the home and returning with an eight-inch chef’s knife before attacking the victim.
After his arrest, Williams admitted he retrieved the knife from the kitchen and stabbed his wife multiple times. He told detectives a comment she made “pushed him over the edge.”
“One step closer to making justice a reality for Yolanda Williams, her family and the citizens of the 7th Circuit,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said after the recommendation was read. “We will continue our pursuit of the death penalty in this case and our support for the victim’s family.”
“Today’s proceedings are about far more than a criminal conviction and penalty. They are about Yolanda Williams, a beautiful life taken through an unimaginable act of violence. On behalf of every member of the Bunnell Police Department, I extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Williams’ family, friends and everyone who loved her,” Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon added. “This conviction reflects countless hours of dedicated work by the members of the Bunnell Police Department, alongside our partners at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney, whose professionalism, collaboration and commitment to justice ensured the defendant was held fully accountable under the law. While we cannot erase the pain caused by this senseless crime, we honor Yolanda Williams by protecting our community and standing with our victims.”
Chief of Homicide Jason Lewis and Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz successfully argued for the death penalty for the state.
