Woman Found Guilty of Concealing Death of Son 25 Years After His Body Was Discovered

DECATUR, Ga. (TCD) — A jury has convicted a 46-year-old woman of one felony charge, while acquitting her of other charges, almost 25 years after the decomposing body of her young son was found near a cemetery. The woman, identified as Theresa Ann Bailey Black, was found guilty of concealing the death of another in connection with the death of her son, William DaShawn Hamilton. The verdict was announced by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Theresa Ann Bailey Black, aged 46, was found guilty of concealing the death of another in connection with the death of her son William DaShawn Hamilton, while being acquitted of murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children. The verdict was delivered after almost 25 years since the discovery of Hamilton’s decomposing body near a cemetery. The case had remained unsolved for years until a recent breakthrough.

The remains of 5-year-old William DaShawn Hamilton were discovered in a wooded area on February 26, 1999. The investigation determined that the victim was a Black male, estimated to be between 5 and 7 years old, and had been deceased for approximately three to six months. The child’s body was found to be significantly decomposed, making positive identification difficult.

Due to the inability to positively identify the boy, he became known as John Clifton Doe.

In 2000, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) released artist renderings of what the victim might have looked like. However, no significant leads were generated. It wasn’t until 19 years later, in 2020, when a forensic artist with the NCMEC created a new reconstruction of the victim’s face that a breakthrough tip emerged.

Following the release of the new reconstruction, someone came forward to the NCMEC and claimed to know the boy and his mother. This prompted investigators to reopen the case and obtain DNA samples from Theresa Ann Bailey Black. In February 2022, John Clifton Doe was positively identified as William DaShawn Hamilton.

According to the district attorney’s office, Theresa Ann Bailey Black abruptly withdrew her son from school and relocated them from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Atlanta in 1998. She returned to Charlotte in 1999, but without Hamilton. Throughout the investigation, she provided inconsistent accounts of his whereabouts.

When detectives informed Theresa Ann Bailey Black in 2022 that her son had died, she initially expressed surprise. However, she later admitted that her son had been sick but did not seek medical assistance. Black confessed to leaving his body in the woods after his death. The investigation revealed that Hamilton had diphenhydramine and acetaminophen in his system, which are commonly used medications for colds and allergies.

Although the jury’s verdict acquitted Theresa Ann Bailey Black of murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston expressed disappointment. She stated, “We still believe she is responsible for young William’s death.” Boston went on to commend the dedication of the community in seeking justice for Hamilton, saying, “Today, William DaShawn Hamilton has his name back, and he will never be forgotten.”

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