Ruia Reams, a 10-month-old baby girl, tragically lost her life on January 11, 2019, in Durham, North Carolina. On that fateful day, Ruia and her mother, 20-year-old Zhytila "Honey" Wilkins, were at their home when a violent incident occurred. Wilkins made a desperate call to 911, reporting that she had been shot. During the call, a gunshot was heard before the line was disconnected.
When dispatchers called back, a man answered and claimed that everything was fine, despite Wilkins' cries being audible in the background. Police officers were dispatched to the scene, where they found both Wilkins and her infant daughter dead from gunshot wounds. The suspect, Ramir Reams, who was 27 years old at the time, was also found at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the mouth. He survived his injuries and was taken into custody.
The investigation revealed that Wilkins and Reams had been in a romantic relationship for about five years and had recently broken up. Wilkins' cell phone, found at the scene, contained hundreds of recent text messages from Reams, including threats and a photo of the handgun used in the murders. The evidence presented in court showed that Reams had entered the home and shot both Wilkins and their daughter before attempting to take his own life. The handgun discovered at the scene was determined to be the murder weapon, having been fired six times.
Ramir Reams was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his infant daughter and her mother. On August 30, 2023, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for each murder, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. The case was prosecuted by the Durham County District Attorney's office, and the court proceedings were presided over by Superior Court Judge Shamieka Rhinehart. The tragic deaths of Ruia Reams and Zhytila Wilkins were described by the police as a disturbing domestic murder and attempted suicide, highlighting the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
