BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ AND JENNIFER LEBOVICH
IGUTIERREZ@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Hours after the body of a state correctional officer was found brutally stabbed to death outside her Overtown home, Miami police arrested the woman's husband and charged him with second-degree murder.
Jabcol Ellis Williams, 31, the victim's husband of nine months, had spent most of Tuesday being questioned by homicide detectives.
The body of Rhonda Mickens-Williams was found about 8:30 a.m. on the side yard of her home at 1842 NW First Ct.
Someone in the home had called 911; police arrived to find Williams and his wife's 18-year-old son at the scene.
``Officers described the murder scene as very gruesome,'' said Miami police spokeswoman Kenia Reyes. Mickens-Williams had obviously put up a fight. Williams also had blood on his hands and clothing, according to an arrest affidavit.
Williams agreed to go with officers to the police station, where at first he denied involvement in his wife's killing. He later confessed to beating and stabbing her, the affidavit said.
Police spokesman Detective Willie Moreno said the couple had an argument but declined to elaborate on the motive.
The mother of three sons was a popular correctional officer at the South Florida Reception Center in Doral; her job was to transport inmates.
``She was a very kind-hearted person,'' said Mary Troupe, a former sister-in-law. ``She loved her boys. That's all she talked about -- her boys.''
All played football and Mickens-Williams spent much of her time cheering them on. She would also take the boys on family trips to Disney World and to the county fair. She loved having family andfriends over for cookouts, Troupe said.
Mickens-Williams began working for the Department of Corrections in 2004. Warden David Harris said Tuesday her co-workers were ``heartsick'' over her death.
``No matter the situation, Rhonda always had a smile on her face and her concern for others made her one of our most popular and respected correctional officers. . . . She will forever be remembered for her good nature and compassion.''
Miami Herald staff writers Luisa Yanez and Diana Moskovitz contributed to this report.
No comments:
Post a Comment