Kimesha Monae Williams, 35, sister of Clippers star, Kawhi Leonard, is arrested for the murder of an elderly woman whose skull was cracked in a casino bathroom before she was robbed of $1,000
Sister of NBA star Kawhi Leonard, female accomplice charged with murder of an elderly woman after they cracked her skull before she was robbed of $1,000
Leonard’s sister Kimesha Monae Williams, 35, and Candace Townsel, 39, are charged in the murder of the 84-year-old victim inside a casino bathroom in Temecula, Calif
The pair of female robbers were arrested for the murder of Afaf Anis Assad, 84, of Long Beach, before they robbed her of $1,000
Surveillance video at the Pechanga Resort Casino helped investigators identify suspects in the Aug 31 attack
![Kimesha Williams [right] and Candace Townswel [left] 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Kimesha-Williams-right-and-Candace-Townswel-left-1.jpg?resize=620%2C462&ssl=1)
Eligible for death penalty: Candace Townswel [left], and Kimesha Williams [right], were charged with murder and robbery for the August 31 attack at the Pechanga Resort Casino that led to the death of an 84-year-old woman. The special circumstances makes them eligible for capital punishment
Kimesha Monae Williams, 35, one of the sisters of Kawhi Leonard is being held without bail at Indio Correction Facility.
Authorities say that on August 31, Williams and her accomplice Candace Tai Townsel followed 84-year-old Afaf Anis Assad of Long Beach, into a bathroom at the Casino near Temecula, broke her skull and stole her purse. Assad died September 4.
Williams, 35, was charged with murder and robbery for the August 31 attack at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, according to a report from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Her partner in crime Candace Townswel, 39, is facing the same charges.
The pair of female robbers were identified by investigators reviewing casino surveillance video as suspects in the beating death of Assad.
Williams, of Moreno Valley, California, was confirmed to be Leonard’s sister by her aunt, Denise Woodward, according to the Press-Enterprise.
Afaf Anis Assad [photo], 84, of Long Beach, was found in a casino bathroom unconscious after her skull was cracked and she was robbed of about $1,000. She later died from her injuries
According to Wayne Brown, Assad’s son-in-law, he and his wife dropped Assad and her husband off at the casino around 7:30 a.m. Aug. 31, and roughly half an hour later she was found badly beaten and unconscious in a bathroom.
Deputies responded to Pechanga Resort Casino located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula to investigate a report of a female adult who was found unconscious in a bathroom, discovered a female adult, later identified as 84-year-old Afaf Anis Assad of Long Beach, who appeared to be the victim of an assault. She died from her injuries fours days later at a local hospital on September 4.
“She didn’t even get a chance to play,” Brown said. “I mean she had some money in her wallet because she was ready to play that day, and I don’t know if they targeted her because she just walked through the door and they knew she had money in her wallet.”
Suspects in the murder were identified by investigators after reviewing casino surveillance video at the Pechanga Resort Casino [photo], in Temecula
The victim’s family members said they also were told by investigators that Williams was Leonard’s sister, and said they hope he can relate to their loss after his father too was murdered.
Mark Leonard died outside his car wash in Compton after he was shot multiple times on January 18, 2008, when the star forward was only 16. The case remains unsolved, reports the LATimes.
‘We know he understands the pain we are experiencing,’ Wayne Brown said in a statement.
There is no suggestion that Williams’ NBA star Kawhi Leonard, [photo], who stars for the Los Angeles Clippers, was in any way involved in the attack
The victim’s skull was broken.
Both suspects in the murder were identified by investigators after reviewing casino surveillance video at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula.
‘Investigators who had also been closely monitoring Assad’s medical status, learned she would likely die from her injuries. The Central Homicide Unit was notified and responded to assist with the investigation,’ the sheriff’s office wrote in its report.
Four days later, Assad died from her injuries, according to authorities who followed up with the arrests after reviewing the video and locating the suspects.
‘We know he understands the pain we are experiencing,’ Assad’s son-in-law Wayne Brown said in a statement, referring to the unsolved, shooting murder of Leonard’s father in 2008
Kawhi’s dad Mark Leonard [photo], 43, died after he was shot multiple times on January 13, 2008 outside his car wash in Compton, LA. His murder has never been solved
NBA forward Kawhi Leonard [photo], signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers worth more than $100 million two months ago
The in no indication he has contacted his sister – According to court documents, an investigator requested that the suspects be held without bail because he feared Williams’ family had the financial resources to get her released.
‘Williams has family that are well off and could post her bail of $1,000,000,’ the investigator wrote, according to the Press-Enterprise. ‘I am requesting NO BAIL to assure Williams’ appearance in court and to keep innocent victims safe.’
Contacted at her home in Moreno Valley on Saturday, their aunt said she didn’t know if her niece was contacted by her brother after the arrest, reports the Press Enterprise.
The charges against Williams and Townsel now include, murder, robbery, elder abuse and a special circumstance of committing a robbery during a murder that makes them eligible for the death penalty
The new charges against Williams and Townsel include, murder, robbery, elder abuse and a special circumstance of committing a robbery during a murder that makes them eligible for the death penalty.
The district attorney has not decided whether to seek that penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, Hall previously told the Press-Enterprise.
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