The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:24 PM

Knox Woman Kills Three Year Old Faces First Degree Murder Charges

 The woman who police said killed her 3-month-old baby after dangling the infant over the balcony has been charged with first degree murder.

Police said the woman held a baby over the railing of the third story Knoxville apartment complex on the night of Friday, Nov. 17.

On Saturday, KPD said the infant had died. The three-month-old child's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.

The suspect and mother of the child was identified as 19-year-old Tierra Patrice Williamson. Williamson was still being treated at the hospital while under guard by officers Saturday morning.

As of Monday, Nov. 27, Williamson had been transported to a corrections facility and charged with first degree murder.

KPD previously said Williamson would be held on a $100,000 bond after she became well enough to leave the hospital.

Local 8's Lauren Davis talked to people who live in the apartment complex on Monday. They said they are angry at the woman and can't believe this baby died that way. One person said that baby didn't have to die.

According to police reports, officers found the three-month-old child being held by his father, a witness at the scene. Police said the father was crying as he held the child.

Police entered the apartment, where they said they found Williamson hiding behind window shades.

Initially, dispatch said that police first responded to 1100 Lula Powell Drive for reports of a shooting at 8:20 p.m. on Friday night. Police later said they were unclear what sparked those reports.

No evidence of a shooting was found, police said Saturday. KPD said no weapons were found at the scene.