A North Carolina woman with cognitive impairments disappeared after getting into a strange car, and now police are investigating her death.
On Saturday, January 4, Heather Williams, 25, was seen leaving her home in Fayetteville on her family’s Ring camera just before 10 p.m. According to the Fayetteville Police Department, she got into a light-colored sedan with a sunroof — a car her family does not recognize... Continue reading here ▶
Williams, who had limited speech due to her cognitive impairment, was considered endangered. Six days later, on Friday, January 10, her body was found in a wooded area near Newark Ave. and State Ave. Her family is now seeking answers about what happened to her.
Her sister, Mary Williams, told ABC 11, “That Sunday, when I woke up, she wasn’t at the house. We tried calling her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. At that point, we knew something was wrong.”
In 2015, Heather was involved in an accident that left her with cognitive impairments. Her sister shared with WRAL that despite the challenges, Heather worked hard to live a normal life. “She was loving, and she loved her family and loved Jesus,” Mary Williams said.
Due to her condition, her family worried about her meeting people, especially online. They believe she had met the person who picked her up online. “She was so trusting and naive to the dangers out there,” said Mary Williams.
When Heather didn’t return home after getting into the car, her family reported her missing. “Her being out there alone at night was a dangerous situation for her,” Mary Williams added.
The family was devastated to learn that Heather had been found dead. “She loved life, was fearless, and loved to be with family,” her sister said. “She had a love for God that never wavered.”
The family is asking anyone with information to come forward. “If you know anything, please speak up,” Mary Williams said. “Someone has to know something. I pray that whoever does come forward so we can get justice for Heather.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective E. Alrafai at 910-723-0327 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477 or visit fay-nccrimestoppers.org.
