Man pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to sexual assault and murder of child

Phenix City, Alabama: 37-year-old Jeremy Tremaine Williams was arraigned in court on Tuesday, April 5 on charges including capitol murder for the December 2021 death of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland.

Williams entered a plea of not-guilty by reason of "mental disease or defect." He will now undergo a psychological evaluation conducted by the state of Alabama.

Two pleas were entered by Charles Floyd, Williams' Phenix City defense attorney according to the Ledger-Enquirer. The first plea was not-guilty, the second being not-guilty due to mental state, alleging that at the time of the homicide Williams was "unable to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of his acts."

The charges against Williams include capitol murder of a victim younger than 14, capitol murder in the course of kidnapping, capitol murder while raping a victim younger than 12, capitol murder while committing sodomy, producing child pornography, abusing a corpse under those same circumstances, first-degree sex trafficking involving a victim under 18 and conspiring to commit human trafficking.

If Williams is convicted, he could face the death penalty. Should the jury agree that he is not guilty due to a mental disease or defect, he would not be released but rather sent to an institution for the criminally insane.

Floyd indicated that he was unsure of when Williams would be available to proceed with the case noting that there are a backlog of requests for psychological evaluations with the state.

Circuit Court Judge David Johnson apprehensively scheduled the trial for August 19, anticipating a likely need to reschedule.

Also during the hearing, Russell County Chief Assistant District Attorney Rick Chancey informed the court that he wished to join the case against Williams related to the sex trafficking of Kamarie to the corresponding case against Kristy Siple, also known as Kristy Hoskins, her mother.

Johnson stated that he would rule on that motion once the written motions were filed.

Due to the nature of the crime, Chancey told reporters following the court appearance that he was working to get the capitol murder case against Williams handed ahead of others that had been previously delayed due to COVID restrictions.

Siple, 35, waived her arraignment. She has been charged with sex trafficking, three counts of felony murder and first-degree kidnapping. If convicted she faces the possibility of life in prison without parole as Chancey indicated that the prosecution will not pursue the death penalty in her case.