Foster mom caught on video 'laughing' over teen after killing her, got her biological daughter to film it: Cops

"Horrifying" cellphone footage shown successful an Illinois courtroom past week revealed a pistillate laughing and taunting her 18-year-old foster girl arsenic the teen lay dying astatine the bottommost of a staircase, according to reports.

Shemeka Williams, 46, is accused of murdering her foster child, Mackenzi Felmlee, successful May 2024 aft months of alleged abuse, according to the Fairview Heights Police Department. She was arrested past week and charged with a fig of crimes successful summation to allegedly sidesplitting Felmlee, including aggravated home artillery and unlawful restraint.

Authorities were notified connected May 11, 2024, of an unresponsive teen and responded to a residence connected Patricia Drive successful Fairview Heights, an FHPD release says. They allegedly recovered Felmlee wrong portion successful the attraction of Williams and Felmlee's foster grandmother, Cornelia M. Reid, 64, who is besides charged with murder.

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According to section NBC affiliate KSDK, video footage of the alleged aftermath was shown successful tribunal Friday arsenic St. Clair County Judge Sara Rice weighed whether to merchandise Williams and Reid astatine a enslaved hearing. Felmlee could beryllium heard wheezing portion connected her backmost astatine the bottommost of a staircase successful Williams' home; she attempted to widen 1 of her legs out, arsenic they were some folded inward to her side, but was allegedly stopped by Williams, who pushed the limb backmost into a folded position, per KSDK.

"She acts similar she's dead," Williams allegedly says. "She conscionable needs sleep."

After these comments, the video allegedly shows Williams smacking Felmlee connected her thorax portion lifting her up by her caput and precocious body. She slumps the teen implicit into her ain lap, inactive unresponsive and unconscious, earlier telling her biologic girl — who is underage — to telephone Reid for help, arsenic she was not present, according to police.

Rice reportedly condemned the footage aft it was shown Friday arsenic "horrifying" and ordered Williams to stay detained, on with Reid.

"I heard laughing and narration," Rice said, aft Williams' defence attorney, Rob Bas, claimed she lone ever tried showing "love" to Felmlee.

"It's thing but love," the justice blasted.

During the hearing, prosecutors pointed to Williams' transgression ailment and presented aggregate videos showing alleged instances of maltreatment and intelligence torture that Felmlee was forced to endure, according to KSDK. This included alleged attacks with a "whooping stick" and different assaults.

"I americium a doof, I hatred myself," Felmlee was allegedly forced to repetition successful 1 clip, portion facing a wall. "It is not bully to manipulate," the teen said successful another, portion allegedly being struck galore times by Williams with a belt.

"Good job," the foster parent allegedly replies. "Are you crying?"

Felmlee responds, "No, ma'am."

In a substance shown from August 2023, Williams allegedly described assaulting Felmlee, saying: "I was whooping her a—. She's pretending to person bulimia.'" A March 2024 punishment saw Williams allegedly telling Felmlee to enactment "poopy underwear" into a aesculapian disguise to past enactment implicit her face, which she did, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors reportedly person photos that amusement Felmlee wearing the disguise with the soiled underwear.

Williams' lawyer said Friday that portion she was unsmooth connected Felmlee, it was successful a akin mode that coaches dainty players successful sports, citing footage that shows Williams making Felmlee look a motion that has "Seven Rules of Life" — with phrases like, "Let it go: Never ruin a bully time by reasoning astir a atrocious yesterday" and "Smile: Life is short. Enjoy it portion you person it."

"My lawsuit maintains innocence," Bas said.

Williams has pleaded not blameworthy to first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated home battery, intimidation, unlawful restraint and home battery. She had been a foster genitor for 12 years earlier Felmlee's death.