WILLIAMSON CO., Ill.—Tamara Williams, the woman accused of killing Barbara Beers almost a year ago in Williamson County, has been determined fit to stand trial.
Jackie Ferguson, maternal grandmother of Tamara Williams and Emanuel Marshall, father of Tamara’s oldest child outside the courtroom Monday morning after it was announced Tamara was found fit to stand trial for the murder of Barbara Beers.
Williams, 29, was accompanied to court Monday, September 15, 2014, by representatives of Human Services and entered by the same door as anyone else. She and her mother Meshaun Williams exchanged smiles with Tamara giving a slight wave.
Soon she was moved to the juror’s box where inmates are usually placed. A few minutes later the Beers family arrived and took the spot where Tamara had been sitting.
Jackie Ferguson spoke freely about how she believes Human Services and the system failed her granddaughter. She said Tamara always had a smile and out of all her grandchildren, she is surprised something like this could happen with Tamara.
Tamara Williams, Williamson County Sheriff’s Department mugshot
Information was given about the last medication Tamara was on; it had terrible side effects such a suicidal thoughts and hallucinations. Instead of starting her out on a low dose to see how she tolerated it, she was put on the maximum dose possible. Ferguson also stated she and her husband had gone to Human Services with their concerns with “no luck at all.”
Information was also given that it was several hours before the Beers family reported Barbara missing and when they did they contacted Williamson County sheriff’s office in stead of Johnston City Police.
Ferguson said it was she who helped find her granddaughter, saying Tamara had texted her saying she was on her way to Georgia, not mentioning anything else that had happened. Ferguson took her phone to the sheriff’s office and was told she had to get closer to a larger city before the could locate her.
Ferguson also noted that in her opinion, Tamara hasn’t been treated very well by staff at county jail. Ferguson received a call saying Tamara was forced to sit in a restraining chair for two hours “with a bag on her head” (a hood, for “biters and spitters”); the chair or hood also has a siren attached, which is sound activated.
Tamara has been remanded to the Williamson County Jail. Her next court date is set for September 22 at 1 p.m.