Williams faces murder charge

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 25, 2005

MURFREESBORO — The Hertford County Sheriff's Office charged Travis Lamont Williams with murder and another count of felony child abuse in the death of a two-year old girl.

Williams, 21, of 117 Pinetops Circle was already in custody of the HCSO following his arrest Friday on a felony child abuse charge.

"After further investigation, Travis Williams was charged with 1st degree murder and Sherikka Beale was charged with another count of felony child abuse," Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said.

Sherikka Shenelle Beale, 19, and Williams were initially arrested on one count eac of felony child abuse.

Williams's bond was initially set at $75,000, but following the 1st degree murder charge the initial bond was revoked.

Beale's cash bond increased another $75,000 to a total of $150,000 after the additional felony abuse charge was added.

"The two year-old girl arrived at the Roanoke-Chowan Hospital late Tuesday night (of last week) with bruises and possibly a fractured skull," according to Vaughan.

"The girl was unresponsive when she arrived at the hospital and was then transported to Pitt Memorial Hospital," Vaughan added

She died Wednesday night.

The arresting officers in the case were Chief Deputy Ronnie Stallings, Lieutenant Raymond Eure and Sergeant Will Liverman.

Williams and Beale were watching the girl last Tuesday night and claimed she had fallen off a bed prior to taking the child to the hospital.

The two suspects will make another appearance in court today (Tuesday).