The suspect in the murder of a Bradenton mother and baby made his first appearance before a judge on Aug. 28, a day after the bodies were found in an apartment the suspect allegedly set on fire.
- Suspect Larry Williams faces two counts of murder, arson
- Williams initially denied involvement
- Diamond Shelman scheduled to start college on Aug. 28
Manatee County deputies said the Avalon Square apartment home of Diamond Shelman, 18, was set on fire on the morning of Aug. 27 while Shelman and her son Jeremiah were still inside. Investigators said Larry Williams, 20, Jeremiah's father, stabbed Shelman, set the apartment on fire and left mother and son there to die.
Williams made his first appearance before a judge on Aug. 28. He was issued $100,000 bond for the arson charge, but is being held without bond at the Manatee County Jail on the two murder charges.
Meanwhile, Shelman's mother, Nakiya Smalls, was among the devastated family members at the apartment on Monday to help gather what was left of Shelman's possessions.
"My daughter was the most peaceful, meek person you could ever ever meet," said Smalls. "She didn't deserve to die this way, she was murdered for no reason. [Williams] killed my grandson who didn't even begin to live."
Williams faces two counts of murder and one count of arson. Deputies said he initially denied any involvement, but later said he was there when "the demon which takes him over" stabbed Shelman and burned the apartment.
Smalls said Shelman previously tried to leave Williams, and had big plans for her future.
"She was supposed to start college today," said Smalls. "She's a pharmacy technician, she was getting her life together and he took her life from her."