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Prosecutors said mother, boyfriend lived with son's decomposing corpse for months
FOX 26 Reporter Damali Keith has more on the case that continues to reveal new and dramatic details after a boy's decomposing corpse was found in an apartment last month in Houston.
HOUSTON - Gloria Williams, the mother accused of leaving her three sons abandoned in an apartment with their deceased brother, went before a judge Monday and even more disturbing details came out.
The prosecutor in the arraignment hearing told the judge, Williams, and her boyfriend, Brian Coulter, also lived there in that apartment with her 8-year-old son’s decomposing corpse for months from November 2020 to March 2021 before leaving her other children behind, to live with the body alone.
"This case has shocked the conscience of our community, as well as the nation, and we need to make sure we find answers as to how a mother could allow this to happen to her children and to find her accountable," says Prosecutor Andrea Beall.
Standing before the judge, Williams listened as Beall revealed, once Williams moved out, she sent some groceries about once a month. According to Beall, Williams didn’t know what to do with her son, Kendrick Lee's remains, so she continued renting the apartment so his body wouldn’t be discovered.
MORE: 'This one affected us:' HCSO officials describe finding skeletal remains, abandoned boys
Coulter is charged with beating the 8-year-old to death. Williams is charged with Injury to a child by omission and tampering with a corpse.
"We’ve filed the charges that we’ve filed and this is a starting point," Beall explains.
"I am horrified. It’s terrible. I don’t want any child to be in that situation," says George Ford, Executive Director of Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards.
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FULL: HCSO details disturbing case of boy found dead in apartment
Harris County Sheriff's Office officials share details on the 'disturbing' case of an eight-year-old boy found dead in an apartment where his three brothers were living abandoned. The boy had been dead for almost a year.
Unfortunately during the pandemic, an already underreported crime, child abuse, is being reported even less as kids spend more time away from mandatory reporters.
RELATED: Relatives of boys found living abandoned with their deceased brother's remains speak out
The boys left living with their deceased brother, for instance, had not been enrolled in school since May of 2020, which according to the Texas Education Agency, is the case for thousands of students. Since the start of COVID, reports of abuse dropped significantly.
"They did go down for a period of time, but they’re now approaching a little more normal level in recent months," Ford explains.
"What we have seen, though, are the cases that have come in, unfortunately, are a little more severe," says Kerry McCracken, Executive Director of the Children’s Assessment Center in Houston.
RELATED: 'These kids fell through the cracks,' says non-profit Children at Risk
McCracken says as kids spend more time away from teachers, doctors, and coaches, it’s up to family members and neighbors to be the voice for abused children because she says abusers are counting on kids' silence and yours.
"I’ve heard it time and time again, ‘You know, I think something might be happening but I just don’t want to make that phone call. What if I’m wrong?’" says McCracken as she recalls conversations she’s had with those who are hesitant to report abuse.
"I understand the concern about possibly insulting the parents if they’re wrong, but I think you have to consider, well what if you’re right," adds Ford.
You can of course call 911 to report abuse or call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400.
MORE: Bond set for mom, her boyfriend charged in murder of boy found in Harris Co. apartment
Meanwhile, Williams and Coulter are expected back in court later in the week as prosecutors try to get bonds raised for both. Defense attorneys for both are attempting the opposite, hoping the judge will lower Williams bond from $900,000 and Coulter’s from $1 million.