DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A mother, Teresa Black, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for concealing the death of her 6-year-old son, William Hamilton, in DeKalb County, Georgia in 1999. William’s remains were found six months after his death, but his identity remained unknown until 2022.
While a jury found Black not guilty of felony murder, cruelty to children, and aggravated assault charges, she was convicted of concealing William’s death. Black claimed she accidentally overdosed her son with medication.
On Friday, Judge Stacey Hydrick sentenced Black to the maximum 10 years in prison, expressing disbelief at Black’s actions and the lack of closure for William’s case. The state alleged that Black gave William a lethal dose of medication, but doctors could not confirm the cause of death due to the severe decomposition of his body.
In a news conference after the verdict, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston insisted that Black was responsible for her son’s death, while Black’s public defenders argued that she was a young, homeless mother who did not know how to handle her sick son.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of concealing a child’s death and the importance of seeking justice, even after many years. Despite the sentencing, questions remain about the circumstances that led to William’s death, leaving his family and the community without answers after more than two decades.