In a case that underscores a devastating betrayal of trust, 35-year-old David Jackson, a Black/African American male, was discovered deceased in his Norfolk, Virginia, home on December 13, 2015. A former sailor and a Navy contractor at the time of his death, Jackson was remembered by friends as a quiet, humble, and hardworking man, and a loving father to his teenage daughter.
Concerned neighbors had contacted emergency services after noticing the front door to Jackson's residence on
Pascal Place had been left open. Responding officers entered the home to conduct a welfare check and found Jackson's body. The initial cause of death was not immediately apparent, but the investigation was quickly upgraded to a homicide. An autopsy would later confirm that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head. The scene inside the house suggested a violent struggle, with the home having been ransacked.
The investigation swiftly focused on Tremain Kayo Williams, a friend from New York whom Jackson had permitted to stay at his home since the middle of November 2015. Friends of Jackson later revealed that he had grown uneasy with Williams's presence, citing his lack of contribution and dishonesty. Jackson had confided in a friend just a week before his death that he intended to ask Williams to leave his home. When Jackson ceased all communication a few days later, a concerned friend went to his house, which led to the discovery of his body.
Williams was identified as the primary suspect in the murder. He was apprehended in New York after being found driving Jackson's stolen Chevrolet Tahoe. Inside the vehicle, authorities also discovered a loaded M4 assault rifle. Following his arrest, Williams was charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and grand larceny, among other offenses.
During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Williams had bragged about committing the perfect crime, believing his father's law enforcement background gave him insight into evading capture. Despite his misplaced confidence, a jury found Tremain Williams guilty on all charges. For the murder of David Jackson, the jury recommended a sentence of life in prison plus an additional 103 years.
