Texas mother who let boyfriend beat 8-year-old son to death and left the children with decomposing bodies faces up to 55 years in prison

A Texas mother has pleaded guilty to charges related to the gruesome death of her youngest son before she and her boyfriend left his decomposing body in a Houston apartment with his brothers for a whole 12 months.

Gloria Yvette Williams pleaded guilty last week to negligently causing serious bodily injury in the death of her son, 8-year-old Kendrick Lee, Law&Crime reported.

Her boyfriend, Brian Ward (*55*), was found guilty of capital murder in the boy’s death and sentenced in April to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors set the date of Kendrick’s death between October and November 2020. His skeletal stays weren’t found until October 2021.

Kendrick’s oldest brother called 911 about the body. He told dispatchers that his brother had been “dead for some time” and that he and his three younger siblings were left alone in the apartment.

According to prosecutors, Williams and (*55*) moved out of the apartment about five months after Kendrick’s death and left the remaining boys in filth, without electricity or beds to sleep in. The boys testified that the couple returned every few weeks to bring food. During these visits, (*55*) beat the younger boys.

One of his brothers testified that he was in the room when (*55*) beat Kendrick to death.

“I saw (Coulter) beating (Kendrick). (Coulter) used his fists.” the boy said adding that he saw Kendrick stop moving and blink at one point during the beating before (*55*) covered his body with a blue blanket.

After deputies were called on October 24, 2021, they found Kendrick’s body inside the home. Investigators described the scene inside the apartment as terrifying. One person stated that the apartment was filled with cockroaches and there was a definite odor.

(*55*) and Williams were arrested at a neighborhood library two weeks after authorities found Kendrick’s body.

Prosecutors accused Williams of failing to provide Kendrick with adequate food, shelter and medical care. The 38-year-old shall be sentenced in November. She faces up to 55 years in prison.

“No matter who you are, if you are human, the facts of this case will shock you to your core. This is a terrible act,” said prosecutor Edward A. Appelbaum.

Williams’ actions drew public scorn, with some calling for her to receive the maximum sentence.

“Heartless, give her 55 years in prison,” one person wrote in response to a news article about Williams’ guilty plea. “Disgusting,” wrote one other.