A Georgia man has been found guilty of murdering his stepmother following a disagreement over the sale of his childhood home. William Daniel Wright was convicted of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.
The incident unfolded on the evening of February 17, 2023, when police responded to a report of a person shot in Clarkston. They found Debra Wright, 72, deceased in her car with a gunshot wound to the head. Evidence suggested the bullet had exited her head and shattered the car window.
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Witnesses reported seeing Wright near the victim’s car, and security footage showed a man matching his description standing by the vehicle. A search of Wright’s home revealed bullets matching the one found at the crime scene.
The victim’s sibling informed police of the strained relationship between Debra and her stepson due to the pending sale of the house. Debra had asked Wright to either buy the house or move out so she could sell it. The sale was scheduled to close the following week.
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Police later encountered Wright walking nearby. He initially resisted arrest but was eventually apprehended. A handgun found on him matched the bullet that killed Debra, and his jacket had blood spatter stains matching the victim’s blood.
Despite Wright’s claim that he left the house in a rideshare after returning from the credit union with his stepmother, the jury found him guilty. Judge Shondeana Morris sentenced him to life in prison plus five years.
The case was prosecuted by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Clarkston Police Department.
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