Two years ago, Rev. Autura Eason-Williams was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in her driveway. The teen charged in her killing has just entered a guilty plea but to half of the charges he was originally facing.
The suspect, 17-year-old Miguel Andrade, is accused of shooting the 52-year-old pastor while she sat in her car talking on the phone in her driveway on July 18, 2022. Memphis police said after shooting her multiple times, he then dragged her out of her vehicle and drove off with it—all while wearing an ankle monitor. Authorities say he’d been previously arrested for another crime. They said after stealing Eason-Williams’ vehicle, he went to carjack another city resident.
The Shelby County District Attorney requested Andrade be charged as an adult. It’s unclear if Andrade had any personal motives against the juvenile justice advocate but now, he’s become an example of what Rev. Eason-Williams was working in her community to change.
More on Andrade’s plea from Action News 5:
Andrade was originally indicted for first-degree murder, along with carjacking, especially aggravated robbery, and possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony, charges that carried the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.
But in Shelby County Criminal Court, on February 1, 2024, the teen killer pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and carjacking. He’ll serve 20 years for the murder and eight years for the carjacking.
Despite his criminal history, he was released on bond days ahead of his sentencing. That along with the 28-year prison sentence he received for such a heinous act left Eason-Williams’ family looking for a harsher punishment. Her sister called him a “disgrace” during testimony. Her husband also had a few choice words for the man who murdered his wife.
“You are only out on bond because the juvenile system is messed up. In other countries, they do a life for life. But you will be eating three meals a day. Until changes are made with the juvenile system, there will continue to be unjust penalties,” said Darrell Eason-Williams. “I hate you to my f***ing gut. I have no remorse for you. I wish the worst for you while you’re locked up for 28 years.”
Two more suspects, a 22-year-old and 17-year-old, were charged in connection to the crime.