It’s been almost five years since David Carter was reported missing from Melvindale and his remains were later found scattered in garbage bags along I-75 in Ohio. Now, the woman accused of the heinous murder – his girlfriend – has been named to the U.S. Marshal’s most wanted list.
Who is David Carter’s Girlfriend Tamera Williams?
Tamera ‘Tammy’ Williams, now 44, was named to the U.S. Marshal’s 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list this week as authorities continue to try to get justice for Carter’s murder in September 2018.
Williams was named as the suspect in Carter’s murder just hours after he was found dismembered in garbage bags in Ohio. Authorities say she disappeared after the 39-year-old father went missing and she’s been on the run since.
The Search for Justice
“The addition of Tamera Williams to the U.S. Marshals Service Top 15 Most Wanted demonstrates our commitment to apprehending Williams, to answer for this brutal murder,” said Owen Cypher, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan. “We will pursue her for as long as it takes and stop at nothing to bring her to justice. We will be relentless in this endeavor.”
Williams, now 44, has been on the run for five years as her case has been featured on FOX’s “America’s Most Wanted”, “In Pursuit with John Walsh” and 2022 on Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries.” A reward was originally set at $1,000 but raised to $10,000 a year ago and is now up to $25,000.
Description and Characteristics
The U.S. Marshals office said Williams has worked in the medical field and as a travel agent. She’s also known to be a world traveler and has ties throughout the country while also having close involvement with the Order of the Eastern Star, a part of Freemasonry.
She stands 5’5″, weighs approximately 190 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. She also has a large tattoo of roses on her left shoulder. She should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals 24-hour tip line at 1-877-WANTED2 or send information via the USMS Tips App.
Was She Responsible for His Murder?
Tammy Williams, 43, is the lead suspect in the murder of David Carter and is currently wanted by U.S. Marshals. In October 2018, the dismembered body of Carter was found in multiple bags along the I-75 in Ohio. He had died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Williams was Carter’s ex-girlfriend and had dated him for six months before he was reported missing on October 2.
Last Moments Together
As heard in Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, Williams and Carter were last spotted together at a football game on September 28, 2018. Two days later, on Sunday, September 30, Carter’s son DJ was supposed to stay with his father, but both he and his mother, Samia Conner, received a text message sent from Carter’s phone that he was too ill to spend time with DJ.
Speaking in Unsolved Mysteries, DJ recalls Williams’s strange behavior when she saw him that day. He recalled: “She ran to the apartment door–like ran. And when I got to my dad’s house, the door was locked. You’d have thought since she saw me, she’d have left it unlocked but I had a key.”
Investigation and Arrest
On Tuesday, October 2, David Carter was officially declared a missing person. Less than 24 hours later on Wednesday, October 3, Carter’s disappearance became a homicide investigation after his body was officially identified.
Williams was arrested by Michigan police on Friday, October 5, as the prime suspect in Carter’s death, but was released from custody three days later on Monday, October 8. At the time of her release, there was not enough evidence against Williams to press charges. Three days is also the maximum amount of time Williams could be held without charges being filed.
Where is She Now?
As heard in Unsolved Mysteries, the whereabouts of Tammy Williams remain unknown today. Shortly after her release from custody, Williams fled from Michigan, leaving little to no trace. According to Andrew Battersby of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, Williams was spotted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 16, 2018.
She was known to withdraw cash from an ATM and have dinner at a restaurant. She is then believed to have taken a train to Chicago and another to Penn Station, New York City. There is evidence she checked into the Neptune Hotel using her name, staying for one night. Williams was spotted leaving the hotel on October 18 and hasn’t been seen since.
In September 2021, according to FOX 2 Detroit, police believed Williams’ family had helped her go on the run, providing her with money. Her mother was charged after she allegedly embezzled more than $200,000 while she was the treasurer of the Detroit Firefighters Association.
Battersby said: “Somebody is helping her–financially and also providing her with a roof, a place to stay. She just did not disappear. The weapon that was used has not been recovered so she’s probably armed and dangerous.
“She could have short braids, she could be wearing wigs. “The one thing that’s common on her though–is she has a huge rose tattoo on her left shoulder that goes from the elbow up over the shoulder. That rose bouquet is going to stand out,” reports The Radio Times.