Shameka Williams Allegedly Laughed While Teen Lay Dying—Now Charged with Murder
Photo Credit: https://www.ksdk.com/
Horror in Fairview Heights: What Allegedly Happened
In Fairview Heights, IL, in May 2024, 18‑year‑old foster teen Mackenzi Felmlee was found unresponsive at the bottom of a staircase in her foster home. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of death, according to her grand jury indictment, was a pulmonary embolism, allegedly the direct result of her legs being physically constricted—like tourniquets—by foster mother Shemeka Williams and grandmother Cornelia Reid.
The Defendants, Charges, and Courtroom Drama
Shemeka Williams (46) and her mother, Cornelia Reid (64), remain detained on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, unlawful restraint, and intimidation.
At her detention hearing, Judge Sara Rice described the alleged behavior as "horrifying," citing video evidence showing Williams allegedly laughing while Mackenzi lay gasping for air, covering her with a blanket without seeking medical help.
Another video allegedly shows Mackenzi being forced to recite self-degrading phrases—"I am a doof, I hate myself"—while being struck with an object.
Credit: Fairview Heights Police Department
From left to right: Shameka Williams | Cornelia Reid
Months of Alleged Abuse Documented
Investigators confiscated a cell phone containing images and videos spanning May 2023 through May 2024, depicting:
Mackenzi begging for food and water
Bruises and injuries in various stages of healing on her face, arms, and legs
She was allegedly forced to wear a soiled diaper on her face, with her nose and mouth obstructed by a material covered in human waste.
Williams allegedly told a friend by text: *“I was whooping on this girl's ass, she's a dumb **, she's faking bulimia”.
Mackenzi was reportedly struck with a "whooping stick" and forced into "poopy underwear" for hours, per her foster sister’s testimony.
Evidence of Prior Complaints and Oversight Failures
At least four other foster children allegedly reported emotional or physical abuse by Williams over her 12-year tenure as a foster parent—but none of those complaints were formally investigated by DCFS.
Icons cases included allegations spanning 2015 to 2020:
A 14‑year‑old punched with a belt (removed but the report was deemed “unfounded”)
A 17‑year‑old told to "sleep outside" for “misbehavior”
A 16‑year‑old dragged home by the ankle after running away.
Neighbors reported Mackenzi ran away twice seeking help, once hiding in a garage—yet no effective intervention followed.
Police logs show 31 calls to the Williams home over five years, though details remain undisclosed.
Medical Findings & Contributing Factors
Mackenzi weighed only 90 lbs, down from 131 lbs a year earlier; evidence of severe dehydration shortly before death.
Her death was ruled due to a pulmonary embolism formed by a tourniquet-type injury to her legs; doctors state prompt intervention could have saved her.
Broader Dangers in Foster Care
This tragedy magnifies well-documented systemic failures:
Systemic Gaps Exposed
Complaint handling: Repeated complaints went unresolved—DCFS deemed them “unfounded” with no follow-up.
Monitoring gaps: DCFS placement workers visited as recently as two days before her death, yet no injuries were flagged .
Transparency barriers: Illinois law requires DCFS to report on child deaths, but no public findings have been released due to unresolved criminal investigation .
Oversight breakdown: The system failed multiple times—from licensing to placement to welfare checks.
What Must Happen Next
Thorough DCFS investigation once legal proceedings have concluded, followed by fully transparent public reporting.
Accountability for overlooked alerts—each prior complaint must be traced to see how DCFS determined them "unfounded."
Reform foster parent vetting, including stricter checks and mandatory reporting on allegations.
Independent monitoring units to investigate recurring complaints or medical red flags.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
These are allegations and both women remain innocent until proven guilty. However, the disturbing nature of the video, the serious injuries, and overlooked warning signs make this a stark warning against how foster care can fail the very children it’s meant to protect.
This tragedy demands more than accountability—it demands systemic reform.
Share this post, educate your community, and push to ensure adult caregivers in foster systems are properly vetted, monitored, and held to the highest standards. No more children like Mackenzi should be harmed while under state care.
