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Murder of Mercedes Williamson

According to Justice.Gov, Joshua Vallum was in a relationship with transwoman Mercedes Williamson. He hid her true identity from his family, friends, and his fellow gang members in the Latin Kings.

The two split up and didn’t speak for a few months. Once Vallum learned one of his friends discovered Williamson was transgender, he feared the gang would come after him, so he decided to kill Williamson.

Vallum went to Williamson’s place in Alabama in May 2015, lured her into his vehicle, and drove her back to his father’s home in Lucedale, Mississippi.

He stunned her with a stun gun, then he stabbed Williams and beat her with a hammer, killing her.

When police busted him, he tried to use a gay panic defense, saying he killed her after learning she was transgender.

Later, he admitted that was a lie.

Legal Proceedings

He pleaded guilty to state charges and got a life sentence.

According to Justice.gov, he also pleaded guilty to violating the Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act on December 21st, 2016. This was the first case prosecuted where the victim was targeted due to their gender identity.

According to NPR, he was facing up to life in prison, but the plea deal suggested a lesser sentence, citing childhood neglect and other factors. The judge stuck with the agreement and sentenced Vallum to 49 years in federal prison.