AL Supreme Court decides motion requesting execution of Kamarie Holland’s killer
The Alabama Supreme Court granted a motion Tuesday authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Correction to carry out the death sentence of Kamarie Holland’s killer, according to a court order.
The court order, provided to the Ledger-Enquirer by Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey, says, “It is further ordered that the Governor shall set a time frame, which shall not begin less than 30 days from the date of this order, within which the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections shall carry out Jeremy Williams’ sentence of death.”
What led to the order
A Russell County jury found Williams guilty in April 2024 on multiple capital murder charges in the kidnapping, rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland of Columbus in December 2021.
Russell County Circuit Court Judge David Johnson sentenced Williams to death in April 2024.
Williams entered a motion to have the remainder of his appeals waived, which would expedite his execution. The appeals process can take decades for death-penalty cases in Alabama, the Ledger-Enquirer reported.
Johnson found Williams competent to waive his appeals and his right to appellate counsel.
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Williams’ murder conviction in March after an automatic appeal due to the case involving capital murder and a death sentence.
A motion filed May 15 by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office says, “The State of Alabama respectfully moves this Honorable Court to authorize the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections to carry out Jeremy Tremaine Williams’s lawfully imposed sentence of death within a time frame set by the Governor of Alabama.”
Case background
Holland’s death in December 2021 came after her mother, Kristy Marie Siple, and Williams agreed to let Williams commit sexual offenses against the 5-year-old girl for $2,500.
Siple pleaded guilty to human trafficking in the case. She agreed to serve a sentence of 20 years and testify against Williams as part of the plea, but she was not called as a witness during trial.
Cellphone pings showed Williams left Siple’s residence on Bowman Street in Columbus and headed to his residence on Dozier Street before going to the 15th Avenue location in Phenix City.
Columbus Police Department officers found Holland’s body. Her body was covered by a tarp and insulation in the back of a home on 15th Avenue in Phenix City, police said.
During the trial, the jury heard testimony from the CPD officers who found Holland’s body and the doctor who performed the autopsy. The jury also saw video of Williams assaulting Holland.
David Rydzewski, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Holland, testified blood taken from Holland revealed methamphetamine and amphetamine in her body.
Williams claimed he made Holland smoke meth, according to testimony given by Sgt. Brad Evans of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators found on Williams’ phone six videos of him sexually assaulting Holland. They identified Williams in the footage after he dropped the phone, causing the camera to flip around and show Williams.
Before the trial, Williams pleaded guilty to charges involving Holland’s death. However, Alabama law dictates that a case carrying the death penalty cannot be resolved by pleading guilty. Those guilty pleas were entered as exhibits during the trial for the jury to consider.
DA reacts
Chancey told the Ledger-Enquirer on Tuesday he is “pleasantly surprised that we’re moving forward at a good pace.”
Chancey said he hopes Williams’ execution will be carried out by the end of the year.
“It’s my understanding that they’re going to do everything they can to move him closer to the front of the line as long as the governor is on board with it.”
Chancey said his thoughts are with the families of everybody involved in the case and said he hopes it brings some closure.
“I’m sure the next few months are going to be tough just thinking about it and reliving everything again as we get closer to the date and all the attention that will be placed on this,” Chancey said.
Chancey said he doesn’t know why Williams asked for the expediting of his execution, but he said he doesn’t attribute it to remorse or guilt.
“I think he comes from a good family, and maybe it’s just he doesn’t want his family to have to live with this for the next 20 or 30 years waiting on this to happen,” Chancey said.