“Horrifying” cellphone footage shown in an Illinois courtroom last week revealed a woman laughing and taunting her 18-year-old foster daughter as she lay dying at the bottom of a staircase, according to reports.
Shemeka Williams, 46, is accused of murdering her foster child, Mackenzi Felmlee, in May 2024, following months of alleged abuse, according to the Fairview Heights Police Department.
She was arrested last week and charged with a variety of crimes, including aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint.
On May 11, 2024, authorities were notified of an unresponsive teen and responded to a residence on Patricia Drive in Fairview Heights, according to an FHPD release.
They allegedly discovered Felmlee inside while in the care of Williams and his foster grandmother, Cornelia M. Reid, 64, who is also charged with murder.
According to local NBC affiliate KSDK, video footage of the alleged aftermath was shown in court Friday as St. Clair County Judge Sara Rice considered whether to release Williams and Reid during a bond hearing.
Felmlee could be heard wheezing while lying on her back at the bottom of a staircase in Williams’ home; she attempted to extend one of her legs out, as they were both folded inward to her side, but was allegedly stopped by Williams, who pushed the leg back into a folded position, according to KSDK.
“She acts like she’s dead,” Williams is alleged to say. “She just needs sleep.”
Following these remarks, the video allegedly shows Williams smacking Felmlee on the chest and lifting her up by her head and upper body.
She slumps the teen over into her own lap, still unresponsive and unconscious, before instructing her biological daughter, who is underage, to call Reid for assistance because she was not present, according to police.
Rice reportedly condemned the footage, which was shown Friday, as “horrifying” and ordered Williams and Reid to remain detained.
“I heard laughing and narration,” Rice said, after Williams’ defence attorney, Rob Bas, claimed she only tried to show “love” to Felmlee.
“It’s anything but love,” the judge exclaimed.
During the hearing, prosecutors referred to Williams’ criminal complaint and showed multiple videos depicting alleged instances of abuse and psychological torture that Felmlee was forced to endure, according to KSDK. This included alleged assaults with a “whooping stick” and other weapons.
“I am a doof, I hate myself,” Felmlee was allegedly forced to repeat in one video while facing a wall. “It is not good to manipulate,” the teen said in another, while Williams allegedly struck him several times with a belt.
“Good job,” the foster mother allegedly says. “Are you crying?”
Felmlee says, “No, ma’am.”
In an August 2023 text message, Williams allegedly described assaulting Felmlee, saying, “I was whooping her a—. “She is pretending to have bulimia.” Williams was sentenced in March 2024 for allegedly telling Felmlee to put ‘poopy pants’ into a medical mask to put over her face, which she did. Prosecutors reportedly have photos of Felmlee wearing the mask and soiled pants.
Williams’ lawyer said Friday that while she was rough on Felmlee, it was in the same way that coaches treat athletes, citing video footage of Williams making Felmlee face a sign with the words “Seven Rules of Life” — phrases such as “Let it go: Never ruin a good day by thinking about a bad yesterday” and “Smile: Life is short.” “Enjoy it while you can.
“My client maintains innocence,” Bas stated.
Williams has not pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated domestic battery, intimidation, unlawful restraint, or domestic battery. She had been a foster parent for 12 years prior to Felmlee’s death.
