Convicted child killer Delilah Williams is looking for new friends online while serving time at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, according to a website dedicated to finding prison pen pals.
Williams, 30, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of her 5-year-old stepdaughter, Talia Emomi Williams, who died July 16, 2005, after months of torture at their Wheeler Army Airfield home.
Under a plea deal with the government, Williams will get a sentence of 20 years in prison. Her husband, former Schofield Barracks soldier, Naeem Williams, 34, is facing a death sentence in U.S. District Court for killing his daughter.
During her husband’s trial, Delilah Williams testified she hit her stepdaughter with a belt, stomped on her, slammed her head into a wall, pulled out her hair and also beat the girl after taping her to a bedpost.
In her profile at writeaprisoner.com, Williams says she is a "bisexual Korean/Chamorro," 5 feet 7 inches tall and "thick with a big heart and a wonderful personality." She says she takes pleasure in experiencing new things, enjoying life and meeting people.
"I don’t play games with people’s hearts," she says. "I feel life is too short. I’m honest and sometimes, brutally blunt."
She lists her interests as reading, writing, arts and crafts, music, movies, cards, amusement parks and "feeling the thrill of riding rollercoasters." She wraps up her profile by saying she wants to build a new friendship.
Her attorney, Alexander Silvert, said he doesn’t know whether Williams set up the profile, but said seeking pen pals online is a new twist on an old concept.
"It’s a hard life in prison," he said. "They’re looking for companionship and friendship where they can."
He said all of Williams’ family is in Texas. "She’s really been alone," he said by phone. "I can perfectly understand her reaching out and looking for comfort."
He said Williams has been serving hard time because she is at a detention center that doesn’t have the programs and educational opportunities that a normal federal prison offers, such as the ability to go outdoors.
He said Williams still hasn’t been sentenced because she is a witness in her husband’s trial. When the case ends, she will be sentenced to 20 years and finally get moved to a federal prison, probably by August.
"She’s actually served, I believe, a harsher sentence in many ways than other people because she’s always been here," he said.
He said Williams has also been subject to taunting and abuse from other prisoners for what she did.
FDC spokesman Jeffrey Greene said prisoners cannot create an online profile because inmates cannot use the Internet, except for emailing people on an approved list.
But someone else may have set up the profile for Williams. A link on the profile allows a user to write a message that will be printed and mailed to her.
"We don’t prohibit anyone from writing letters," Greene said. "As long as it doesn’t impede on the security of our institution, we won’t stop them from making any friends or loved ones."
The profile, started in September, includes two photos of Williams, smiling with her head tilted.
While the profile’s authenticity could not be confirmed, the site’s creator, Adam Lovell, said he created the website to help prisoners communicate with the outside world and improve their lives.