Chronicling the Kamarie Holland case, aftermath in Phenix City
This collection of stories explores the investigation, trial, and sentencing in the case of Kamarie Holland’s murder in Phenix City.
The articles detail how Jeremy Tremaine Williams was found guilty of capital murder after confessing to raping and killing the 5-year-old. They describe how the trial unfolded, with the jury viewing police body camera footage from the crime scene and recordings from Williams’ cell phone.
Reporting also covers the conviction and sentencing phase, including Williams’ attempts to waive future appeals to expedite his execution. Additional articles discuss Kristy Siple’s arrest and guilty plea for trafficking her daughter, funeral arrangements for Kamarie, and the judge’s decision to maintain a gag order during early court proceedings.
Read the stories below.
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NO. 1: 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL REPORTED MISSING IN GEORGIA, POLICE SAY. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW
The girl was reported missing from Columbus on Monday. | Published December 13, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney
NO. 2: MAN FACES CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE AFTER MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOUND DEAD IN PHENIX CITY
Breaking news: Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor is holding a press conference. Here’s what we know right now. | Published December 14, 2021 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee
NO. 3: MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING 5-YEAR-OLD COLUMBUS GIRL TELLS JUDGE HE DOESN’T WANT LAWYER
Kamarie Holland was found dead Monday evening. The suspect, Jeremy Tremaine Williams, made his first court appearance Tuesday. | Published December 14, 2021 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee
NO. 4: FUNERAL PLANS SET FOR 5-YEAR-OLD COLUMBUS GIRL KAMARIE HOLLAND FOUND DEAD IN PHENIX CITY
A fundraiser has been launched to help the family pay for expenses. | Published December 15, 2021 | Read Full Story by Mark Rice
NO. 5: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT KAMARIE HOLLAND KIDNAPPING, DEATH INVESTIGATION
Many new details have unfolded since Kamarie’s mother reported her missing Monday morning. Here’s what we know from law enforcement, and what we’ve discovered about suspect Jeremy Williams’ history. | Published December 16, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 6: RUSSELL COUNTY JUDGE DECIDES WHETHER TO MAINTAIN KAMARIE HOLLAND GAG ORDER IN MURDER CASE
BREAKING NEWS: The judge’s order was just passed down. Here’s what to know. | Published December 20, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 7: PHENIX CITY COMMUNITY GATHERS TO MOURN ‘PRINCESS’ KAMARIE HOLLAND: ‘LET GOD STRENGTHEN YOU’
“Even in the midst of our tears, even in the midst of our hurt and our pain, even in the midst of all of the heartache that we are enduring right now, it is important for us to do as this community has done. That is, to show love, even in the face of evil.” | Published December 22, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 8: WHY WASN’T AN AMBER ALERT, AKA LEVI’S CALL, ISSUED IN KAMARIE HOLLAND HOMICIDE CASE?
An Amber Alert is an early warning mechanism to help find abducted children. | Published December 23, 2021 | Read Full Story by Mark Rice
NO. 9: MOTHER OF KAMARIE HOLLAND CHARGED WITH MURDER IN COLUMBUS 5-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH
BREAKING NEWS: Here’s what we know right now. | Published December 28, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 10: MOTHER OF 5-YEAR-OLD KAMARIE HOLLAND FACES HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGE ALONG WITH MURDER
U.S. Marshals tracked Kristy Siple, also known as Kristy Hoskins, to a Circle K store in Columbus Tuesday to make the arrest. She faces multiple counts related to the death of her daughter. | Published December 29, 2021 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 11: SUSPECT ARRESTED IN MURDER OF KAMARIE HOLLAND TO FACE MORE CHARGES, OFFICIALS SAY
Breaking News: Here’s what you need to know. | Published January 11, 2022 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee
NO. 12: NEW CHARGES IN KAMARIE HOLLAND CASE REVEAL MORE ABOUT WHAT REPORTEDLY HAPPENED DURING KILLING
“It troubles us, the information that we have found out,” Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey said outside of court today. | Published January 12, 2022 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 13: NIGHT BEFORE KAMARIE HOLLAND REPORTED MISSING, ACCUSED KILLER WAS NAMED IN ANOTHER SEX CASE
Exclusive: A police report obtained by the Ledger-Enquirer names Jeremy Williams as the suspect in an incident that took place the night before Kamarie Holland was reported missing. | Published January 14, 2022 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 14: GRAND JURY INDICTS TWO SUSPECTS IN THE RAPE, MURDER OF 5-YEAR-OLD COLUMBUS GIRL
A man accused of killing Kamarie Holland and Holland’s mother have been indicted on multiple charges. | Published March 7, 2022 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 15: SUSPECT IN COLUMBUS 5-YEAR-OLD’S RAPE, STRANGULATION ENTERS INSANITY PLEA
Jeremy Tremaine Williams will have a psychological evaluation conducted by the state of Alabama. | Published April 5, 2022 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 16: RUSSELL COUNTY JUDGE REJECTS TAKING 5-YEAR-OLD’S ALLEGED KILLER OFF JAIL SUICIDE WATCH
Jeremy Tremaine Williams faces new charges in a case involving another child victim. | Published December 14, 2022 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 17: PLEA HEARING SET FOR SUSPECT IN RECORDED RAPE, STRANGULATION OF COLUMBUS 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
If the man accused of raping and killing Kamarie Holland does not plead guilty, he will go to trial in early April, the Russell County District Attorney said. | Published March 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 18: ‘HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED.’ MAN PLEADS TO RAPING, STRANGLING GIRL HE BOUGHT FROM GA MOTHER
The man pleaded guilty to capital murder but under Alabama law, will still stand trial, where his pleas will be used as evidence against him. | Published March 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 19: MAN PLEADED GUILTY TO RAPE, MURDER OF GIRL HE TOOK FROM COLUMBUS. WHY HE’S ON TRIAL THIS WEEK
Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 39, may face the death penalty in this capital murder case. | Published April 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 20: RUSSELL COUNTY DA WARNS JURY OF GRUESOME DETAILS COMING IN TRIAL OVER 5-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH
While already having pleaded guilty to murder and other crimes, the defendant must stand trial in order for the death penalty to be considered under Alabama law. | Published April 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 21: JURY SHOWN VIDEOS OF OFFICER RESPONSE, MORE AFTER 5-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN PHENIX CITY
Prosecutors played body camera video Wednesday from officers who responded to find Kamarie Holland after she’d been killed. | Published April 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 22: DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED AUTOPSY ON 5-YEAR-OLD KAMARIE HOLLAND TESTIFIES IN MURDER TRIAL
Dr. David Rydzewski, a forensic pathologist, testified that a toxicological report of blood taken from Holland revealed methamphetamine and amphetamine in the girl’s body. | Published April 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 23: JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY OF CAPITAL MURDER AFTER KILLING 5-YEAR-OLD PHENIX CITY GIRL
Assistant District Attorney Malory Hatfield told the jury, “This angel baby didn’t deserve this,” during her closing arguments. | Published April 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 24: FATHER OF SLAIN 5-YEAR-OLD WANTS DEATH PENALTY FOR MAN CONVICTED IN PHENIX CITY
Kamarie Holland’s father told the Ledger-Enquirer, “Kamarie was too precious for what happened to her.” | Published April 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 25: KILLER OF 5-YEAR-OLD KAMARIE HOLLAND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY ALABAMA JUDGE AFTER CONVICTION
He was sentenced to death Monday morning on all four capital murder charges hew was convicted of by Judge David A. Johnson in a courtroom in Phenix City. | Published April 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 26: ALABAMA JUST ADDED ITS 166TH PERSON TO DEATH ROW. THE APPEALS PROCESS COULD TAKE DECADES
Alabama made headlines earlier this year after using nitrogen hypoxia to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. | Published April 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 27: KAMARIE HOLLAND’S KILLER WANTS TO WAIVE APPEALS, EXPEDITING DEATH PENALTY, PROSECUTOR SAYS
Those convicted of capital murder often sit on death row for decades. But Jeremy Williams has asked the court to skip his appeal process, a prosecutor says. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 28: JUDGE RULES ON REQUEST OF KAMARIE HOLLAND’S KILLER TO EXPEDITE HIS EXECUTION
Jeremy Williams entered a motion to waive the remainder of his death-penalty appeals in the capital murder case. | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.