The man accused of raping and killing a 5-year-old Columbus, Georgia girl appeared in court this week for an arraignment hearing.
37-year-old Jeremy Williams pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in the murder of Kamarie Holland.
Police and deputies found Holland’s body in an abandoned home in eastern Alabama on December 14. Investigators arrested 37-year-old Jeremy Williams and Holland’s mother Kristy Siple.
SEE MORE: NEW DETAILS: Georgia Mother Charged On Multiple Counts Of Felony Murder For Murdered 5-Year-Old Daughter
A grand jury indicted Williams on four counts of capital murder for kidnapping, rape and murder. Williams was also indicted on human trafficking, abuse of a corpse and production of child pornography.
Officials said Siple trafficked her daughter to Williams in exchange for money. Siple was indicted on three counts of felony murder and count of human trafficking. Siple waived her court appearance but entered a not guilty plea.
SEE ALSO: 5-Year-Old Girl Sexually Assaulted And Murdered By Man With History Of Crimes Against Children
On December 13, Columbus police department issued a critical missing child alert for Siple’s 5-year-old daughter Kamarie Holland. She told police she went to check on her daughter when she woke up and couldn’t find her.
Columbus police identified Williams as suspect and reached out to Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama for assistance.
Investigators tracked Williams down to the Bamboo Hotel in Phenix City where he was staying with his uncle. The hotel told police they had been there for 30 minutes before police arrived.
SEE ALSO: Missing 5-Year-Old From Georgia Found Dead In Alabama
Agents went to a former address in Phenix City that belonged to Williams and found Holland’s body.
Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said the cause of death appeared to be asphyxiation and there were signs of sexual abuse.
AL News obtained court documents of the indictment in March. The newspaper reports that Williams recorded himself raping her after he had killed her, according to the documents.
SEE ALSO: Mother Arrested And Charged With Murder In Death Of 5-Year-Old Kamarie Holland
Williams had been arrested for sexual abuse in the past, including 2009. He was later acquitted by a jury in 2012.
Because Kamarie was believed to have been killed in Alabama, the case will remain in Russell County.
Jury trial is slated to begin Sept. 26, WTVM reports. Williams could face the death penalty if convicted on the capital murder charge.
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