Written by Tanya Terry, with photos courtesy of Crime Stoppers and Mary Williams
Featured photo: Taswala Williams
A recent press conference highlighted the fact that the murder of Taswala Williams, found severely beaten and stabbed multiple times on the sidewalk on her 50th birthday, remains unsolved. Williams was found between 3-6 a.m., on the sidewalk of Martin Luther King Ave. on July 1, 2025, near Marian Hall, formerly known as the Flint Odyssey House. Williams died of her injuries two days later.
Williams’ was diagnosed with acute psychosis, schizophrenia and paranoia.
Mary Williams, the younger sister of Taswala Williams, said at the press conference that the family was there because they “believe in justice and truth.” She described her sister as a “loving mother, a grandmother, a woman of faith and someone who always put others before herself,” as well as “a light in dark places.”
“Taswala’s story is also about how society treats those living with mental illness,” Mary Williams said. “…It matters that we protect the most vulnerable ones in our community.”
Williams shared she continues to find it hard to sleep, eat, work and function, knowing how her sister spent her last days. She also shared that she and her sister shared a room with twin beds as children, and “were in labor together.”
“In terms of functioning with me and my work and things that I should be doing, as far as my performance as a professional, it has declined tremendously,” Williams shared.
She recollected times when she and her older sister would go get something to eat at a drive thru in the overnight hours and her sister would “have her cracking up.”
“No matter what, she was somebody,” said Williams of her sister. “…She was a butterfly. She was so gentle that I was afraid someone would try to harm her, because her awareness and defense mechanism is really not there. But, again, never in a million years did I think someone would do something this brutal to her.”
Williams added: “Somebody knows what happened…”
She said the family was begging anyone that knows anything, big or small, to come forth. She also said the family is praying that God will lay it on the heart of the person who assaulted and stabbed her sister to come forward.
“We’re not asking for revenge. We’re asking for truth and healing for justice.”
Williams said at the press conference she takes solace knowing her sister is in heaven.
“This place is not her home.”
Honny Williams, Taswala Williams’ older sister, said of her sister at the press conference: “Since she passed, I still find myself looking for her. I might think I saw her somewhere else and not face the fact that I won’t see her again…Until she gets justice, I’m not going to be able to go on day-to-day as normal…Life is hard, missing her smile, missing her call…It’s hard for the whole family, knowing that somebody is still out there.”
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for any information leading to a felony arrest on the severe assault and stabbing of Taswala Williams, that led to her death. Julie Lopez stated at the press conference that Crime Stoppers is 100% anonymous.
To submit a tip anonymously, call 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), or go to www.CrimeStoppersofFlint.com.
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