Flowery Branch, GA – A 29-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend and her teenage son, while leaving her 8-year-old child alone in the house with the victims’ bodies for two days.
Gruesome Discovery by Family Member
The tragedy came to light on March 26, 2021, when Mary Lindsay’s eldest daughter visited the home after being unable to reach her mother for several days. She climbed through a window and found her 8-year-old brother asleep in their mother’s room. Soon after, she discovered Mary Lindsay, 39, and her 15-year-old son Atif Muhammad, Jr., dead in a locked bedroom.
Authorities later confirmed that both victims had been shot to death two days earlier.
Shooter Identified as Abusive Boyfriend
The man responsible, William Jerome Adams, was found guilty of:
- Two counts of murder
- Two counts of aggravated assault
According to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, Adams was Lindsay’s boyfriend and had a history of being abusive and controlling toward her. Testimony in court revealed that Lindsay had once shown her daughter a 9 mm Luger handgun that belonged to Adams, just 10 days before the murders.
“Adams had a controlling nature and was abusive toward Lindsay,” prosecutors said, noting visible injuries to her arm from prior incidents.
Young Boy Lived Through the Aftermath
Prosecutors revealed the most disturbing detail: Lindsay’s 8-year-old son had remained in the home for two full days, unaware that his mother and brother had been murdered in the next room.
“He was found asleep in the same room two days later, not realizing what had happened,” a prosecutor said.
Police found three 9 mm shell casings in the bedroom, later matched to ammo found nearby. The evidence strongly tied Adams to the scene.
Attempted Escape to Mexico Foiled
Within days of the murder, Adams fled Georgia. Investigators obtained a warrant and tracked him to Laredo, Texas, where federal authorities arrested him at the Mexico border. He was traveling under a fake name and without a passport, according to officials.
Investigators also discovered that Adams had stolen $2,000 from Lindsay’s bank account following the killings.
Life Sentence Handed Down Without Parole
After a full trial and guilty verdict, a judge sentenced Adams to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The District Attorney’s Office praised the verdict and acknowledged the family’s pain.
“The verdict and sentence are fitting for a defendant who violently took the life of a mother and son and stole from them,” said District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “We mourn with the victims’ family and hope that the outcome of the trial gives them some closure and justice.”
How can the justice system better protect families from abusive partners? Share your thoughts in the comments.
