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| Police identify three girls found stabbed to death in Maryland home | Police identify three girls found stabbed to death in Maryland home |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Three young girls found dead in a Maryland house on Friday were fatally stabbed by an older brother of one of the children, according to Prince George’s County police. | Three young girls found dead in a Maryland house on Friday were fatally stabbed by an older brother of one of the children, according to Prince George’s County police. |
| Police on Saturday morning identified the girls as Ariana Elizabeth DeCree, 9; Nadira Janae’ Withers, 6; and Ajayah Royale DeCree, 6. | Police on Saturday morning identified the girls as Ariana Elizabeth DeCree, 9; Nadira Janae’ Withers, 6; and Ajayah Royale DeCree, 6. |
| Antonio Williams, 25, of Clinton, has been arrested on three counts of first-degree murder and other related charges in the slaying of the girls. Williams is the brother of Withers and a cousin of the other two girls. | Antonio Williams, 25, of Clinton, has been arrested on three counts of first-degree murder and other related charges in the slaying of the girls. Williams is the brother of Withers and a cousin of the other two girls. |
| The Decree sisters are from Palm Street in Newark, NJ. They are the daughters of the suspect’s mother’s cousin and were in Maryland for the summer, police said. | The Decree sisters are from Palm Street in Newark, NJ. They are the daughters of the suspect’s mother’s cousin and were in Maryland for the summer, police said. |
| The mother of Nadira and Williams returned to her home in Clinton at around 7:30 a.m. Friday after working an overnight shift and leaving the girls in Williams’s care. She discovered the three girls suffering from stabs wounds in a basement bedroom. | The mother of Nadira and Williams returned to her home in Clinton at around 7:30 a.m. Friday after working an overnight shift and leaving the girls in Williams’s care. She discovered the three girls suffering from stabs wounds in a basement bedroom. |
| [Man arrested after three girls found dead in Prince George’s home] | [Man arrested after three girls found dead in Prince George’s home] |
| After the mother called 911, officers arrived at the house in the 6400 block of Brooke Jane Drive and the children were pronounced dead around 7:46 a.m. A fourth child, a 2-year-old, was inside, alive and unharmed, police said. Police said it remained unclear why the girl was spared. | After the mother called 911, officers arrived at the house in the 6400 block of Brooke Jane Drive and the children were pronounced dead around 7:46 a.m. A fourth child, a 2-year-old, was inside, alive and unharmed, police said. Police said it remained unclear why the girl was spared. |
| Police said Williams remained at the scene after the slayings. He was transported to a police station, where authorities said he offered a complete confession to the stabbings during an interview with investigators. Williams told investigators he killed the girls while they were laying in the bed, but it’s unclear if they were asleep at the time. | Police said Williams remained at the scene after the slayings. He was transported to a police station, where authorities said he offered a complete confession to the stabbings during an interview with investigators. Williams told investigators he killed the girls while they were laying in the bed, but it’s unclear if they were asleep at the time. |
| Police said they had not had contact with Williams before the incident and had never been called to the address, where the girls were found dead. Williams turned 25 Saturday. | Police said they had not had contact with Williams before the incident and had never been called to the address, where the girls were found dead. Williams turned 25 Saturday. |
| When reached by phone Friday, a woman associated with the Withers family said they we not ready to speak about the loss of their loved one. | When reached by phone Friday, a woman associated with the Withers family said they we not ready to speak about the loss of their loved one. |
| “Right now, we’re very distraught,” she said. | “Right now, we’re very distraught,” she said. |
| On Saturday, a note addressed to the media sat outside the door of an address associated with the family, asking for time to grieve. | On Saturday, a note addressed to the media sat outside the door of an address associated with the family, asking for time to grieve. |
| “Our hearts are extremely heavy during this time,” read the note signed “The Withers Family.” | “Our hearts are extremely heavy during this time,” read the note signed “The Withers Family.” |
| A video message that appeared to be from the mother of the DeCree girls was posted on the woman’s Facebook page on Saturday. | A video message that appeared to be from the mother of the DeCree girls was posted on the woman’s Facebook page on Saturday. |
| “Hug you all’s loved ones tonight,” the woman said. “Hold the people you hold close tonight because I never thought I would really say this and mean this. Tomorrow is not gauranteed. It’s not guaranteed for you. It’s not guaranteed for me, so if we leave with a message of just love who you love. Let go of those...family grudges. Let go of those friend grudges. Just let go...because your family may not be here tomorrow.” | “Hug you all’s loved ones tonight,” the woman said. “Hold the people you hold close tonight because I never thought I would really say this and mean this. Tomorrow is not gauranteed. It’s not guaranteed for you. It’s not guaranteed for me, so if we leave with a message of just love who you love. Let go of those...family grudges. Let go of those friend grudges. Just let go...because your family may not be here tomorrow.” |
| Police worked into the night Friday collecting evidence from the gray, single family home on a quiet block. A rust-colored car sat in front of the home. Police tape stretched across several blocks of the neighborhood of during the massive investigation. | Police worked into the night Friday collecting evidence from the gray, single family home on a quiet block. A rust-colored car sat in front of the home. Police tape stretched across several blocks of the neighborhood of during the massive investigation. |
| Assistant Police Chief Hector Velez said at Saturday’s news conference the crime was difficult for investigators, too. Counselors were on hand to help the police and others who had to respond to the grisly scene. | Assistant Police Chief Hector Velez said at Saturday’s news conference the crime was difficult for investigators, too. Counselors were on hand to help the police and others who had to respond to the grisly scene. |
| “Incidents like these are not easy to handle,” Velez said. “As parents, aunts, uncles and siblings of young children, it hurts us as well. Our initial thought is to want to hug our children, but we know we have to put those feelings aside and remain steadfast in finding who the killer is and telling the story that these three children can not tell.” | |
| “This is one of the most difficult that our officers have arrived on,” Donelan said. | “This is one of the most difficult that our officers have arrived on,” Donelan said. |
| By late morning on Friday, residents in the neighborhood were learning about the deaths. Neighbor James Pinkney called it “earthshaking news.” | By late morning on Friday, residents in the neighborhood were learning about the deaths. Neighbor James Pinkney called it “earthshaking news.” |
| “This is horrific,” Pinkney said. Pinkney said he would stay home from work Friday, worried about leaving his 13-year-old daughter home alone as police searched for suspects. | “This is horrific,” Pinkney said. Pinkney said he would stay home from work Friday, worried about leaving his 13-year-old daughter home alone as police searched for suspects. |
| “My heart is heavy,” said a choked up Pinkney. “How could you live with yourself committing such an evil act?” | “My heart is heavy,” said a choked up Pinkney. “How could you live with yourself committing such an evil act?” |