FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – A Georgia man will spend the remainder of his life in prison after being convicted of killing his girlfriend and her teenage son, then leaving her youngest child alone in the home with their bodies for days.
William Jerome Adams, 29, was found guilty this week on two counts each of murder and aggravated assault in the March 2021 shooting deaths of Mary Lindsay, 39, and 15-year-old Atif Muhammad, Jr. The case was tried in Gwinnett County, drawing widespread attention for its troubling details and the impact on a surviving young child.
The investigation began on March 26, 2021, when Lindsay’s eldest daughter went to check on her mother after she had gone silent for several days. Concerned, she entered the home by climbing through a window. There, she discovered her 8-year-old brother asleep in their mother’s bedroom, unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded.
Inside a separate, locked bedroom, the daughter found the bodies of Lindsay and Atif. Law enforcement arrived shortly after and quickly determined that both had been shot to death approximately two days earlier. The boy, alone in the home since the killings, had been left in the care of his deceased mother and brother.
Investigators recovered three 9 mm shell casings at the scene and linked them to ammunition found nearby. Evidence and witness accounts pointed to Adams, who had been in a relationship with Lindsay, as the main suspect.
Authorities soon identified Adams’ attempt to evade arrest. Within a day of securing a warrant, federal agents tracked him to Laredo, Texas, where he was apprehended trying to cross into Mexico using false identification and without a passport. Further financial records showed Adams had stolen $2,000 from Lindsay’s bank account around the time of the murders.
Testimony during the trial revealed a history of abuse. Atif’s twin sister recounted finding a 9 mm handgun in the house about ten days before the homicide, photographing it as evidence. She testified that her mother confirmed the weapon belonged to Adams. Jurors also reviewed a photograph showing an injury to Lindsay’s arm, which prosecutors said was caused by Adams.
Witnesses described Adams as controlling and abusive toward Lindsay in the period leading up to the murders, painting a picture of escalating violence. The court also heard how the events traumatized both remaining children and devastated the family.
Following his conviction, Adams was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Authorities said the punishment reflects the severe harm caused by Adams to the victims and their family. Prosecutors expressed hope that the verdict and sentence provide a measure of justice and closure for Mary Lindsay and her children, whose lives were upended in a violent and senseless act.