FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill — A Fairview Heights foster mother and foster grandmother will remain behind bars as they face charges in the murder of 18-year-old foster child Mackenzi Felmlee. On Friday afternoon, the defendant's family and friends packed the courtroom in Belleville. The foster mom, 46-year-old Shemeka Williams, entered in handcuffs wearing a yellow jumpsuit. While she pleaded not guilty, Judge Sara Rice said that Williams posed a danger and threat to the community and ruled she would remain detained. This is after her defense attorney fought for a release with conditions, such as ankle monitoring. Williams and her mother, 64-year-old Cornelia Reid, will remain detained for multiple charges, including the murder of Felmlee. 5 On Your Side learned Reid had been a foster mom for 12 years and fostered Felmlee since 2020. In court, the prosecutor showed videos and pictures of the alleged abuse during that time. The evidence ranges from May 2023 to the day of Felmlee's death in May 2024. Felmlee died of a pulmonary embolism, which the indictment said was caused by Williams and Reid physically constricting her legs. On the day Felmlee died, first responders arrived to find Felmlee at the bottom of a staircase. Prosecutor Dan Lewis said Williams claimed to have found Felmlee unresponsive in bed. She claimed Felmlee was moved to the bottom of the stairs and Reid called first responders while doing compressions.
However, the prosecutor painted a different version of that deadly day. In court, Lewis explained Felmlee was taunted by Williams, as Williams' underage daughter recorded videos. The videos showed Felmlee's legs constricted as she lay at the bottom of the stairs. In the video, Felmlee could be heard grunting for air while Williams laughed. Williams would say, "She's sleeping" and cover her with a blanket. At the end of the hearing, Judge Sara Rice called this specific video "horrifying."
Another piece of evidence showed Felmlee standing in front of a wall, forced to repeat phrases. One phrase was, "I am a doof, I hate myself," as Williams recorded and yelled at Felmlee while hitting her with an object.
Other videos showed Felmlee begging for food and water. More videos and pictures showed Felmlee's injuries and bruises from her face to her arm. Other disturbing videos and pictures showed Felmlee forced to wear a soiled diaper on her face. Another piece of evidence was a text message of Williams saying, "I was whooping on this girl's ass, she's a dumb ****, she's faking bulimia."
As for testimony, the prosecutor said they spoke to Williams' daughter who confirmed Felmee was hit with a "whooping stick" and Felmlee was forced to wear "poopy underwear" with a mask for hours.
The prosecutor also said Felmlee once ran away to a neighbor's house and asked for help, and that Williams found her and dragged her by her ankle until she got back on her feet, making her return to their home A neighbor told 5 On Your Side police were called after that incident and officers knocked on doors in the neighborhood, but it was unclear if there were ever any consequences.
In court, 5 On Your Side also learned there were at least four other children under Williams' care who filed a report claiming abuse, but the state's Department of Children and Family Services determined the claims were unfounded. One child in her care in 2019 said they were punched and hit with a belt. According to the prosecutor, the foster grandmother denied this and the child was placed in another home.
A child who resided in the home from 2013-2015 also reported Williams and said they were getting hit and threatened. They said, "He'd rather die in the cold than live there."
Another child who lived there from 2016-2017 said Williams was going out of town one weekend and told the child to sleep outside for "being bad." Another child lived there at the same time as Felmlee, who said the co-defendants would withhold food and hit them both. The foster child said the abuse got worse for Felmee when she turned 18 and said Felmlee never told anyone because she was scared.
he child told investigators, "I'm surprised it took so long to investigate her."
Lewis also disclosed information from the autopsy saying Felmlee had severe, extensive bruising. Beyond the pulmonary embolism, dehydration was also a factor.
The prosecutor explained the constriction was like a tourniquet to the legs. He said that a doctor explained if there was prompt intervention, she could've been saved.
Lewis told Judge Rice the victim had no family history of blood clots and had normal blood count. The prosecutor also explained at 17 years old, Felmlee weighed 131 pounds and at her death, she weighed 90 pounds.
The defense countered the arguments by saying the state "cherry-picked" the videos and photos.
Defense attorney Rob Bas described Williams as a foster parent who dedicated 12 years to fostering specialized cases, including children who were raped, sexually abused or living with bipolar disorder.
He called it an "act of service" and said all the allegations against her were "unfounded" by the state.
Bas explained that at the age of 7, Felmlee's mom had subjected her to men for sexual slavery.
Bas said doctors later determined Felmlee was living with bipolar disorder, hallucinations, PTSD and major depression disorder. He claimed those doctors advised Williams to record Felmlee to treat her.
Bas also said because of these mental illnesses, Felmlee would lie and deceit. "We're not blaming the child, but we're providing context," said Bas.
Bas also told the judge that Williams' intent was to show "love," and that making her repeat negative phrases about herself was "like a coach pumping up a player."
At the end of the hearing, Judge Rice referenced the video of Felmlee's last day.
Judge Rice said, "I heard laughing and narration, it's anything but love."
On Your Side spoke to Felmlee's father Rasual Sykes, who now lives Arizona and lost custody of his daughter at an early age. He explained Felmlee was the oldest of three and described her as kind.
He said he knew something was wrong.
Sykes added, "I've tried to contact Mackenzi and we were talking, but after she was with (Williams), I had no response. Matter of fact, my daughters all said they had no response from her."
5 On Your Side asked him if he believes multiple people failed his daughter. He responded, "Oh, facts, even myself. Even like, I kept telling everybody before this even happened, I was like, 'I need to go out there.'"
Williams will have a chance to file a motion against the court's decision. There are no further dates scheduled for the next hearing.
https://archive.ph/O76m5
However, the prosecutor painted a different version of that deadly day. In court, Lewis explained Felmlee was taunted by Williams, as Williams' underage daughter recorded videos. The videos showed Felmlee's legs constricted as she lay at the bottom of the stairs. In the video, Felmlee could be heard grunting for air while Williams laughed. Williams would say, "She's sleeping" and cover her with a blanket. At the end of the hearing, Judge Sara Rice called this specific video "horrifying."
Another piece of evidence showed Felmlee standing in front of a wall, forced to repeat phrases. One phrase was, "I am a doof, I hate myself," as Williams recorded and yelled at Felmlee while hitting her with an object.
Other videos showed Felmlee begging for food and water. More videos and pictures showed Felmlee's injuries and bruises from her face to her arm. Other disturbing videos and pictures showed Felmlee forced to wear a soiled diaper on her face. Another piece of evidence was a text message of Williams saying, "I was whooping on this girl's ass, she's a dumb ****, she's faking bulimia."
As for testimony, the prosecutor said they spoke to Williams' daughter who confirmed Felmee was hit with a "whooping stick" and Felmlee was forced to wear "poopy underwear" with a mask for hours.
The prosecutor also said Felmlee once ran away to a neighbor's house and asked for help, and that Williams found her and dragged her by her ankle until she got back on her feet, making her return to their home A neighbor told 5 On Your Side police were called after that incident and officers knocked on doors in the neighborhood, but it was unclear if there were ever any consequences.
In court, 5 On Your Side also learned there were at least four other children under Williams' care who filed a report claiming abuse, but the state's Department of Children and Family Services determined the claims were unfounded. One child in her care in 2019 said they were punched and hit with a belt. According to the prosecutor, the foster grandmother denied this and the child was placed in another home.
A child who resided in the home from 2013-2015 also reported Williams and said they were getting hit and threatened. They said, "He'd rather die in the cold than live there."
Another child who lived there from 2016-2017 said Williams was going out of town one weekend and told the child to sleep outside for "being bad." Another child lived there at the same time as Felmlee, who said the co-defendants would withhold food and hit them both. The foster child said the abuse got worse for Felmee when she turned 18 and said Felmlee never told anyone because she was scared.
he child told investigators, "I'm surprised it took so long to investigate her."
Lewis also disclosed information from the autopsy saying Felmlee had severe, extensive bruising. Beyond the pulmonary embolism, dehydration was also a factor.
The prosecutor explained the constriction was like a tourniquet to the legs. He said that a doctor explained if there was prompt intervention, she could've been saved.
Lewis told Judge Rice the victim had no family history of blood clots and had normal blood count. The prosecutor also explained at 17 years old, Felmlee weighed 131 pounds and at her death, she weighed 90 pounds.
The defense countered the arguments by saying the state "cherry-picked" the videos and photos.
Defense attorney Rob Bas described Williams as a foster parent who dedicated 12 years to fostering specialized cases, including children who were raped, sexually abused or living with bipolar disorder.
He called it an "act of service" and said all the allegations against her were "unfounded" by the state.
Bas explained that at the age of 7, Felmlee's mom had subjected her to men for sexual slavery.
Bas said doctors later determined Felmlee was living with bipolar disorder, hallucinations, PTSD and major depression disorder. He claimed those doctors advised Williams to record Felmlee to treat her.
Bas also said because of these mental illnesses, Felmlee would lie and deceit. "We're not blaming the child, but we're providing context," said Bas.
Bas also told the judge that Williams' intent was to show "love," and that making her repeat negative phrases about herself was "like a coach pumping up a player."
At the end of the hearing, Judge Rice referenced the video of Felmlee's last day.
Judge Rice said, "I heard laughing and narration, it's anything but love."
On Your Side spoke to Felmlee's father Rasual Sykes, who now lives Arizona and lost custody of his daughter at an early age. He explained Felmlee was the oldest of three and described her as kind.
He said he knew something was wrong.
Sykes added, "I've tried to contact Mackenzi and we were talking, but after she was with (Williams), I had no response. Matter of fact, my daughters all said they had no response from her."
5 On Your Side asked him if he believes multiple people failed his daughter. He responded, "Oh, facts, even myself. Even like, I kept telling everybody before this even happened, I was like, 'I need to go out there.'"
Williams will have a chance to file a motion against the court's decision. There are no further dates scheduled for the next hearing.
https://archive.ph/O76m5
