Flowery Branch, GA — A Georgia man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after murdering his girlfriend and her teenage son, leaving an 8-year-old child alone in the house with their bodies for days.
Mother and Teen Son Found Dead
William Jerome Adams, 29, was found guilty of two counts each of murder and aggravated assault for the March 2021 killings of Mary Lindsay, 39, and her 15-year-old son, Atif Muhammad Jr., according to a press release from the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began on March 26, 2021, when Lindsay’s oldest daughter became concerned after not hearing from her mother for several days.
She entered the home by crawling through a window and found her 8-year-old brother asleep in their mother’s bedroom. The bodies of Lindsay and Atif were later found in a locked bedroom.
Victims Had Been Dead for Two Days
According to investigators, Adams had shot Lindsay and her teenage son two days prior in the same room where the child was sleeping.
“The boy had been staying alone in the home for two days, unaware of the murders,” prosecutors said.
Police recovered three 9 mm shell casings at the scene and matched them to ammunition nearby. An arrest warrant was issued for Adams, and within a day, federal authorities in Laredo, Texas, apprehended him as he tried to cross the border into Mexico using a fake name and no passport.
Controlling and Abusive Behavior Revealed
Prosecutors revealed that Adams had stolen $2,000 from Lindsay’s bank account after the murders. Testimony during the trial also exposed Adams’ controlling and abusive nature toward Lindsay.
Her daughter testified that about ten days before the murders, she discovered a 9 mm Luger handgun and took a photo of it — her mother told her it was Adams’ gun.
Jurors also saw a photo of an injury on Lindsay’s arm allegedly inflicted by Adams, further supporting claims of domestic abuse.
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Justice Delivered in Courtroom
Following the guilty verdict, the judge imposed a life sentence without parole.
“The verdict and sentence are fitting for a defendant who violently took the life of a mother and son and stole from them,” said District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “We mourn with the victims’ family and hope that the outcome of the trial gives them some closure and justice.”
The emotional case has raised awareness about domestic violence and the importance of early intervention, especially in households with children.
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