Suspect In 5-Year-Old Georgia Girl’s Death Linked To Previous Child Abuse Allegations, Sheriff Says

The suspect in the death of a 5-year-old girl from Georgia was previously involved in other child abuse allegations, the sheriff of Russell County has said. The girl went missing from her home in Bowman St., Columbus on Monday before her remains were found that same night.

Speaking to reporters for a briefing on the case Tuesday, Russell County Sheriff Health Taylor said that Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 37, the suspect in the death of Kamarie Holland, was already being eyed by authorities for allegedly being linked to at least three other cases involving children. He is now being held at the Russell County Jail without bond. “I definitely think the motive was a sexual encounter,” Taylor said.

Williams has been charged with capital murder in connection to the case.

At the time of his arrest, authorities found Williams with his uncle at a motel. However, investigators believed the uncle was not involved in Holland’s death. It was also revealed that Williams knew the victim’s mother, but Taylor said the two were not in a romantic relationship, ABC affiliate WTVM reported.

Taylor said Williams was charged in 2009 with child abuse in Phenix City but was acquitted in 2012. He was also a suspect in the death of a 1-year-old in Alaska but there was insufficient evidence to pursue the case. He was also previously charged with the abuse of a child in Columbus but the status of the case is unknown. As for Holland’s case, Taylor said additional charges, including rape are forthcoming.

Holland went missing from her residence Monday morning and that night, deputies found the girl’s remains in an abandoned home in Phenix City, Alabama, where Williams once lived in.

Taylor said initial findings indicated Holland died from asphyxiation but results of an official autopsy are still pending. Williams was arrested at the Bamboo Motel in Phenix City and he stood before Alabama Judge David Johnson on Tuesday afternoon.

Russell County Chief Assistant District Attorney Rick Chancey said that if convicted, Williams faces a minimum sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole and a maximum sentence of death.

At his first court appearance for Holland’s death, Williams, donning a bulletproof vest, reportedly told Johnson that he refuses an attorney but the judge appointed attorney Chuck Floyd to defend him, WRBL reported. Floyd reportedly requested a gag order, stating “I already know the publicity this case is getting." Johnson granted the preliminary gag order, blocking parties involved from discussing details of the case.