South Carolina Man Sentenced for Helping Cover Up 4-Year-Old’s Tragic Death

A South Carolina man was sentenced to 12 years for aiding in the concealment of a tragic child's death.

A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for helping his girlfriend hide the horrific death of her 4-year-old special-needs daughter, whose body was discovered stuffed inside a dresser drawer nearly five years ago.

On Thursday, Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Eugene C. Griffith Jr. handed down the sentence to 31-year-old Audrevious Jarrell Williams for his role in the 2020 death of India Heavenly Lacey Martin.

Williams, who initially faced murder and child abuse homicide charges, accepted a plea deal, agreeing to plead guilty to aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse in exchange for testifying against the child’s mother, Jackleen Mullen.

Mother Sentenced After Shocking Trial Testimony

A jury found Mullen guilty of homicide by child abuse and aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse, though she was acquitted of direct murder charges. Judge Griffith sentenced her to 30 years for the homicide charge and 10 years for aiding and abetting, which she will serve concurrently. Under South Carolina law, she must serve at least 85% of her sentence, making her ineligible for parole until July 2047.

During the trial, Detective Robert Smith of the Rock Hill Police Department described India’s death as one of the most horrific cases he had ever seen.

“This little girl died one of the most miserable deaths a child has ever had,” Smith told the court.

Grim Discovery and Cover-Up Attempts

On May 26, 2020, Rock Hill officers conducted a welfare check at the home Williams and Mullen shared. When asked about her daughter’s whereabouts, Mullen lied, claiming India was staying with a relative named “Cindy” in North Carolina.

In reality, India’s lifeless body was hidden inside a dresser drawer in an upstairs bedroom. A subsequent search of the home led to the grim discovery.

Police body camera footage presented at trial captured an officer pressing Mullen for the truth before finding the child’s remains.

“You want to go to jail for murder?” the officer asked. “Where’s that child? She’s dead, and we know it.”

Mullen, however, continued to deny it, insisting, “My kid’s not dead. My kid is at Cindy’s house.”

Prosecutors also revealed that while India’s body remained hidden in the home, Mullen voluntarily visited the Moss Justice Center to plead guilty to an unrelated forgery case, further demonstrating her shocking lack of remorse.

Sentencing and Accountability

Prosecutors pushed for Williams to receive the maximum 20-year sentence, arguing that he played a key role in covering up the crime. However, his attorney, Geoff Dunn, emphasized that Williams took responsibility and cooperated with authorities.

Williams, who has already served 931 days behind bars, received credit for time served.