Sheriff Nearly Took His Own Life After What He Saw | True Crime Documentary

Sheriff Nearly Took His Own Life After What He Saw | True Crime Documentary

8-year-old Nicole Amari Hall lived in Gwinet County, Georgia. She had always preferred to go by her middle name, Amari. Her grandmother described her as the happiest, brightest child, always smiling. They loved cooking together, playing dress up, and spending time in the kitchen, which was Amari’s favorite place to be.

She adored her younger brother and sister, and was always incredibly loving and affectionate toward them. Amari lived with her brother Jakari, her six-year-old sister Zire, their 27year-old mother Britney, and Britney’s 29-year-old girlfriend, Celeste Owens. Brittney and Celeste had been together for several years and had recently moved into Hometown Studios, [music] an extended stay hotel.

They had been living there for about 3 months and the children were being homeschooled. Sunday, November [music] 21st, 2021. At 9:00 in the morning, a 911 dispatcher received a call from Britney Hall. Amari was missing. Britney said the last time she had seen her daughter was at the hotel sometime between midnight and 1:00 in the morning.

She had locked the hotel room door with the deadbolt, but when she woke up, the door was slightly open and Amari was gone. Before calling 911, Britney searched the entire building. The 27-year-old told the dispatcher that Amari had autism, needed daily medication, had never gone anywhere by herself before. Still, she held on to hope because she knew how incredibly smart her daughter was.

Britney said she is very, very smart. Even though she has autism, she is very aware of everything going on around her. She is extremely observant. This is unbelievably painful. Britney and her children did not have any relatives in the area, so there was nowhere Amari would have gone on her own unless someone had forced her to.

When the dispatcher asked whether Amari had ever run away before, Britney said she had not. However, she explained that Amari had recently been experiencing some behavioral difficulties, so they could not completely rule out that possibility. Britney also told the dispatcher that if Amari had left the hotel room by herself, she most likely would not have closed the door behind her because the deadbolt made a loud clicking sound that could have woken everyone up.

Right now, the desperate search continues to find 8-year-old Nicole Amari Hall, who vanished from this hometown studio hotel here in Peachree Corners. Investigators say she’s been missing since early Sunday morning. Amari’s family tells us the 8-year-old is autistic [music] and in need of daily medication, adding to the urgency of the search.

>> I woke up yesterday morning and my daughter wasn’t here. The doors cracked. I went outside. I went to go around the whole place. I went twice. I did not see her. I >> Britney’s girlfriend, Celeste, said she could not help. She claimed that she had spent that night with her sister at their grandmother’s house.

She said she returned at around 4:00 in the morning, went straight to bed, and did not wake up until Britney started screaming that Amari was missing. Just 3 hours after Amari was reported missing, her description and information had already been broadcast across local news outlets. 8 years old, Africanamean, 4 feet 10 in tall, weighing approximately 80 lb.

Last seen wearing a blue Tweety Bird jacket and a blue and white pajama set. She was also wearing her glasses and rainbow colored sneakers that lit up when she walked. Investigators first searched the hotel room where Britney and Celeste had been staying. They then thoroughly searched every other room in the hotel.

Shortly afterward, Kine units joined the search and helicopters began covering an increasingly larger area. Meanwhile, nearby businesses and property owners turned over surveillance footage to the police. Every available resource was being used in the search for the 8-year-old girl. A few hours after the already large-scale search had begun, at 4:30 in the afternoon, the Gwynet County Police Department announced that investigators still did not have any significant leads.

At the same time, they said there were no indications that Amari’s disappearance involved foul play. They said Miss Hall is new to the area, so she does not have many friends or family members here that she could have reached out to. Our officers are patrolling the area, searching the wooded areas, checking local businesses, and trying to determine where she could have gone, wherever she may be.

I am confident that with the help of the public, our police department, and all of our available resources, we will find her and provide her family with answers. Meanwhile, detectives continued interviewing Britney, Celeste, Jakari, and Zire. If this story has captured your attention, please support the channel by leaving a like and and subscribing.

It only takes a moment, but it means a great deal to us and helps us continue creating new videos. More importantly, your support helps ensure that stories like this are not forgotten and that more people have the chance to learn about the [music] lives behind these cases. >> The reason we’re asking you all these questions and we’re trying to get specific every detail, it’s not because we’re like, “Ooh, what’s Celeste doing?” No, it’s it’s because we’re trying to figure out at some point >> this child has gone missing. And the

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best way for us to figure that out, even if it seems doesn’t does it make sense, like why are they asking this? What’s this have to do with that? We want to know every specific detail for for every moment that you went through in the last >> like 72 hours. We can put everything together and we can figure out, okay, so where’s the 8-year-old? What’s going on? But in order for us to build this crazy picture to be able to try to figure that out, we got to know everything.

Um, how do the kids know you? Like, do they call you Celeste? Do they call you mom number two? Like what? >> Dad. >> They call you dad. Okay. And what time was that when you got back yesterday? >> It was around I want to say cuz I came I came back before she went to the store and when she came back I left and then I got back around I want to say 4ish close to 5ish. I’m not sure.

>> So when you got when you got back from grandma’s house you said that was 4 5:00 p.m. >> No. >> 5 a.m. Now when you get back around 4:00 or 5 could did you notice the kids were in their bed or >> I didn’t Well, it’s like I didn’t think to notice that she would go. >> So you just you just wanted to go to bed.

You weren’t really like checking or they’re not. You just assume they were. And was Britney. Britney was home when you did that when you got in. >> Okay. >> I was asleep and that’s when Britney woke me up and said, “Hey, you know, we got to find her. We got I’m like, “What? What happened? What’s going on?” And then that’s when she went outside and started looking.

>> When When was the last time you actually saw Nicole? Saturday. >> The last time I saw her was when before I left that previous before um Britney came back. And before I left, that was the last time I >> So Britney gets back from BP as you’re leaving with your sister. You do see Nicole.

If you see her there, you know she’s there. >> When I got back from the store, I didn’t know for sure. But before she left the store, she was there. But when I got back at early that morning, I didn’t look to see. >> Okay. So So before you left with your sister, >> that was the last time I saw her. >> So when you were when you were leaving to go with your sister grandma’s house, that’s when you saw her there.

>> She never like then even even if she wants to go outside, she’ll always ask both of us. She don’t just ask my parents. She’ll ask both of us. >> Do you know where Nicole is? >> No, I don’t. >> No. Did you take Nicole from home? I did not take Nicole. >> Did anything happen with to Nicole within the last 24 hours that you’re aware of that caused her any type of injury? >> No.

>> Is Nicole alive that you’re aware of? >> That I’m aware of. Yes. >> Is she dead that you’re aware of? >> No. >> No. Okay. Do you have any reason to believe that she would not be okay other than >> kid that’s wondering outside? I assume yours. >> Okay. Do you know anything about her whereabouts? >> No.

I said the same thing we’ve been saying 20 times today. >> We’re going to step out for a second. We’re going to go talk to Britney for a little bit and then we’ll get back to you. Okay. All right. Okay. Celeste said that in her opinion Amari had run out of the hotel, but then someone saw her and >> with all saying, “What do you think happened with Nicole?” >> I’m going tell you from my personal experience two years ago when I got back with um Britney because we were together before but before she had kids and then we separated and then I we came back

together. Um, my one-on-one relationship with her was >> she was a a sweet child, but the only thing was her behavioral problems. >> So, so what do you think happened last night? >> What I think I think Mor probably got super mad. Like it could be a thousand reasons. I really don’t know what goes through. I’m not the mother.

[laughter] >> Okay. >> So, I really don’t know what goes through this girl’s mind. I’m still learning her and still getting her to accept, you know, me because she does realize it was just her and her mama. Now, I came into the picture. So, I don’t know if it’s probably was different for her, like who is this person and trying to understand.

>> Does she try to get it get into it with you when she gets upset? >> No, she’s just told she just tell me leave me leave me alone. I’m like, I’ll leave it alone. And then when she’s done, probably an hour later, she’ll probably come back and be like, I apologize. And I’m like, you know, it’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay.

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>> So, what do you think happened, Larry? I really think she just, God forbid, but I literally think that >> I really think that she just of course ran away, but I literally think that, God forbid somebody’s not sure. >> We want to know where Nicole is. It’s not a if we find Nicole where Nicole, >> it’s a when we find Nicole, we’re going to find her.

>> Yeah. >> If it’s within the next couple hours, within the next couple days, we’re going to find her. Okay. It’s just a matter of when. We know something happened. We know she’s somewhere. And I think that you know where she is. >> It’s just how you go. We got to this is this is just what we got to do.

We got to we got to talk. >> I’ve been in this predicament before where someone murdered my mother and they didn’t come at me like this. When they sat me down, they just let me write everything and they just went off that. But it’s like it’s just I’m just being real with you. It’s like how you come at me. I think you did this.

I think you know you just said I know I think you know where she is. And it’s like if you think I know them, what are you trying to get me to say? >> Once the first 24 hours had passed [music] since Amari’s disappearance, detectives brought in the homicide unit to join the investigation. Also breaking for you right now, the search continues for that missing 8-year-old girl in Gwet County, who police say is in danger tonight.

This is the second cold night that Amari Hall from Peach Tree Corners has been away from her home, away from her mother. John Sherik is live for us tonight from outside the mother’s extended stay hotel. John, >> Gwinet County police have suspended their search for Amari until daybreak, although the investigation into her disappearance continues.

Gwynet County Police conducting a grid search of these woods between the hotel where Amari lives with her mother and Peach Tree Industrial Boulevard. >> We are working every lead and we are looking at every angle. >> Gwynet County Police Sergeant Jennifer Richtor says the mother and Amari moved to the hotel a couple of months ago and have no relatives living nearby.

Among the searchers, volunteers from Alpha Team K9 Search and Rescue. Amari wears eyeglasses and may be wearing rainbow lightup shoes. Winnette County police are saying that it is more urgent by the hour that someone find her soon and they’re hoping everyone involved in this investigation is hoping that someone will spot her soon and call 911.

>> All right, John. Hoping for a safe, quick recovery. Thank you so much. >> Temperatures had now dropped below freezing, making the search even more difficult. Gwynette County Police Sergeant Jennifer Richtor said, “At this point, we are doing absolutely everything we can to develop any leads possible.

We are going back to rein anyone who needs to be reintered and we are talking to anyone who might be able to help. But with this much time having passed, this has now become a critical case. It is extremely concerning. But before long, everything changed. Investigators told the media that the people they believed were responsible for Amari’s disappearance were already in custody.

They also said [music] that they now believed they were searching for Amari’s body rather than hoping to find her alive and [music] safe. And then came another shocking announcement. Breaking the mother [music] of a missing child arrested and charged Brittany Nicole Hall is in the Gwinnet County Jail right now on multiple cruelty to children charges.

>> Investigators say they’ve gone room to room enlisted the help of canines and a helicopter in their search. Still no Amari. They tell me they’ve combed through the surveillance video from the hotel and add they’ve found something concerning, but are unwilling to release those details at this time in order to protect the investigation.

As police work to uncover the truth, neighbors here at the Hometown Studio Hotel remain baffled at how this young girl seemed to vanish in plain sight. >> Nobody heard anything. Nobody heard anything, any commotion or anything. [music] Unable to withstand the investigator’s persistent pressure to tell the truth, Britney gave them a new version of what had happened.

She claimed that [music] Celeste had killed her daughter and that she had helped cover up the crime. Sadly, on the second day, the search came to an end. >> I’m uh deeply sad to report to you that at 10:45 this morning, uh the body of Amari Hall was discovered. Britney led investigators to a wooded area near Stone Mountain Freeway in Dalb County.

It was there that they found Amari. She was [music] naked and partially buried beneath dirt and leaves. Her body had been wrapped in three trash bags tied together with rope. Even so, [music] parts of her small the body were still visible through some of the bags. She was found approximately 15 m from the hotel. Police Chief J. D.

Mccclure said, “My heart goes out to Amari Hall’s family. We worked tirelessly on this case. We put an extraordinary amount of effort into finding her, but sadly, this is not the outcome we [music] had hoped.” Four, Amari had suffered multiple fractures to her skull and ribs. Her body showed extensive blunt force injuries, cuts on her arms, a lacerated liver, and internal bleeding, a powerful blow to her torso [music] had crushed her liver against her spine.

The medical examiner also noted that Amari weighed only 54 lb, approximately 30, pound less than what would normally be expected for a child her age. She showed clear signs of malnutrition. [music] The medical examiner ruled her cause of death to be prolonged, severe physical abuse, including repeated blows to the head.

The report also concluded that she showed signs of battered child syndrome. [music] >> We compared statements that we had gotten from Britney Hall and also her partner Celeste Owen. We compared those statements with evidence that we gathered and recognized that those statements were indeed false. Our investigation transitioned from a missing person case to indeed a homicide case.

[music] Within the next several hours, we will charge Celeste Owen with felony murder in connection with the death of Amari Hall. Additionally, Britney Hall will be charged with concealing the death of another. We will continue to also investigate [music] her role uh in this murder. >> Just a few hours after the search for Amari began, detectives started to realize that Britney’s and Celeste’s statements did not match.

The first thing that caught their attention was Celeste’s account of where she [music] claimed to have been that morning. >> So, what was the first time Saturday that you left? >> The first time said I can’t recall the time. >> Morning, afternoon, evening. The first time I left, I went to the store, it was morning.

[clears throat] Went to the store that day and then came back and then left again and then helped my sister out and then came back that morning before she went. >> Now, when you left again to help your sister out, what time was that? >> Left again before it was I couldn’t really even tell you. >> Before dinner, >> night time day I mean the sun goes down at 5:00.

>> Before that, it had to be night time. It the daylight was there. >> So when you went to go help your sister, it was already night time. >> We’re going on night. >> Going on night. So after 5:00. In reality, Celeste had not spent the night with her grandmother and sister on the night Amari was reportedly [music] reported missing.

Investigators later discovered that her relatives had not seen her for several months. It was a lie that was remarkably easy to verify. >> And then when you get back? >> That Saturday morning. I mean, um, you talking about Friday? >> No, we’re still on Saturday. Saturday. So, we left. >> So, Saturday morning I came back. Sorry.

I’m just >> Okay. So, let’s just Sorry. Sorry. Just breathe. Okay. So you hang out with Britney all morning on Sunday. You go to the store, you come back, and then you leave again when it’s not when it’s kind of dark to go help your sister. And then you come back when you get back. >> Sometimes I don’t wake up.

Sometimes I just >> Well, I’m not talking about sometimes. I’m talking about just yesterday. >> Just yesterday. Um came back around, let me give you the specific time. >> Uh bad times. Um, I think I want to say cuz I came back. It was evening. It was dark. I want to say 2:00 cuz I was in. They came back >> 2 a.m. >> came back. Yeah. 2 p.m.

>> 2:00 p.m. >> cuz Saturday. Sorry. >> We’ll start over. We’re going to start. Britney told police that before calling 911, she had frantically searched the entire hotel, building, and parking [music] lot for Amari for a long time, but not a single surveillance camera captured her doing so.

The cameras also showed no sign of Omari running out of the hotel or leaving with anyone else. The 8-year-old girl simply never left that hotel room alive. >> [music] >> So she wakes you up. She calls 911 as she’s waking you up, you said. And then she goes outside and and she went and checked the whole parking lot. So that that was one thing I wanted to touch on, too.

So we’ve checked several cameras. There’s a camera for the hotel. There’s the car wash across the street. Here’s a there’s another camera. We’ve checked all those cameras. We have people checking those cameras right now. They never saw her walking around that hotel. >> Really? This morning? >> Mhm. Now, did you see her go walking around? >> I only saw her go down the steps and go down the side.

And by that time, she’s already on the phone when I go. Now, another thing I do have to ask is is on on the side that something else might have happened, did these is there any reason something else might happen? Like maybe more got hurt and there’s an accident and we’re just afraid to talk about it, something like that. >> Sometimes she is like that.

You’ll ask her what’s wrong. >> I mean, I’m talking like last night, did something happen to her to where she got hurt real bad and and we’re coming up with this story to try to to try to >> get away from that cuz we’re worried that like when the police find out, they’re going to think something else happened and we’re going to get in trouble like something like that.

>> No. Additional findings from the medical examiner revealed that Amari had actually died 2 days before the 911 call was made. However, it was the interview with Amari’s younger sister, Zir, whose body was covered in bruises, that told investigators everything they needed to know.

2 days before Amari’s body was found, Celeste told Zire that Amari had gone to the Bad Kids Hospital. Dad took her sister to the Batirl hospital. >> To the Bad Girl hospital. Oh, she’s saying that because when my would act out, I say, “My listen, if you can’t listen to us, you’re going to go can’t say defects. Can’t say none of that. None of that stuff.

” I said, “Mory, if you can’t play with your sisters or you can’t negotiate, you going to go to this place.” And normally when we say that, Moria act right for at least 3 hours. >> Did Why would Zer say that she saw you take Nicole last night? >> She saw him take she didn’t >> Why would she say that? that that you took her last night and that she’s not coming back.

>> I didn’t take her last night. I don’t know why she would say that. >> Okay, we’ve got a missing 8-year-old. If if if a six-year-old says, “Hey, mom’s girlfriend took her and I just brush that off,” then I’m not doing a good job. Okay. >> purposely I wouldn’t purposely take her out, then call you to say she’s missing.

>> And like I just said, it’s no nothing against you. Nothing that I have against you or anything. We’ve got your phone. We’ve got your girlfriend’s phone. We’re getting into those phones whether you guys like it or not. We’re getting search warrants. We’re going through them. We’re going to check location data.

We’re going to check text messages. whether they’re deleted or not. We’re check phone call records. We’re checking uh camera systems or vehicles, vehicle tags, locations. We’re going to talk to every single person you guys have even thought about talking to in the past 5 6 days. >> Okay. So, to go through your phone, you want us to just get a search warrant then.

You mind if we just look through it real quick? It’d be way faster. >> Yeah, they have probable cause for search. I’m not proical calls. I would rather have a lawyer before you go through my phone. Dozens of horrifying videos were found on Celeste’s phone showing both women regularly beating and brutally abusing the children. Investigators also discovered that Celeste had made the following internet searches.

What do you do when a child just will not listen? Lakes near me. How does the city sewer system work? Why do kids run away from home? How do I report someone missing and uh customer account? >> Okay, so I just want to talk to you away from her separate me. >> Yes, all I’m saying is just to clear things. I am discombobulated. I cannot give you exact times.

If you feel like I wanted the BP that time, run the camera back to the BP where you saw me with this hat. You don’t approach people like that to try to get something out someone because you think so. Then why would a little girl this? Why would a little girl? I’ll tell you everything that’s going on.

And then when we come for help, you don’t really get help. That’s why a lot of people do things and just don’t call the cops and handle it their own way because they can flip just like what it did today. Like my dad always told me, anything could flip with cops. So it just pisses me off because I’ve been I’ve heard that I’ve been answering you respectfully all morning, respectfully all morning.

And I get here and I’m in the room that I never been in before that I seen on first 48 and being chastised with questions trying to make me I think you did. Soon as he said that, it broke me to the court. Cuz if I did it, I damn sure wouldn’t be in that hotel. I would be going on the run cuz like I might as well take matters on my own my own hands or hire a private investigator like I wanted to do today.

I said, “Babe, if they can’t actively find today, when we get up on money, we’re going to hire a private investigator to also help.” Information I gave you, the information, the information she gave you. When she woke up, she was not there. That’s it. You can flip the bed. You guys check the bed 10 times. Go flip again.

We give you permission to go in there. >> Mhm. >> If you guys asked us, but you guys kept coming in, kept coming in, which you know you got to have water to come in anyway, but we open the door and let you come in. So, it’s like just have some respectful. It’s like come on. We wouldn’t be calling you for help if we I would have just got away with.

On November 19th, the day investigators believe Amari was killed, surveillance footage captured Celeste renting a small U-Haul truck. She then drove to a dollar store where she purchased latex gloves, bleach, and several drinks. Later that same day, at 7:30 in the evening, the truck was returned to the rental company.

By 8:00 that evening, Celeste was waiting for an Uber. Using the truck’s route and cell phone location data, investigators were able to trace the location where Amari’s body was found in Dicab County. Within just a few hours, all the pieces of the case had come together. According to investigators, Britney had repeatedly talked about wanting to place Amari up for adoption.

However, Amari’s grandmother, Barbara, said she had asked Britney many times to let her take in and raise all three children, but Britney refused every time. Neighbors said that although they had not seen anything suspicious, they rarely ever saw the children outside the hotel room. The family lived a very isolated life.

Police believed that Celeste was responsible for the fatal blows to Amari’s head, while Britney helped cover up the crime. Afterward, they placed the little girl’s body into trash bags, and Celeste rented a U-Haul truck to transport and dispose of it. >> But the guy said, “Soon as we stepped out the door, you couldn’t do that.

” >> So, what stores is our yard? >> We got to search one for your phone. What do you mean we can’t do that? >> Probable cause 51%. We have probable cause all day. I just wonderful. So >> why? But you’re not getting your phone. Well, you got to stay seated >> for what? >> Well, you’re not allowed to leave. >> How am I allowed to leave? >> Well, I’m telling you, you’re not allowed to leave.

>> Why am I being detained? >> Yes, you are being detained. >> You’re getting charged for my obstruction, giving false statements. You’re not allowed to leave. So, you >> I’m being charged for lost statements. >> You can sit down >> or I can have the office detained. >> Well, listen. I’m telling you, you are.

So, either you can sit down and relax. >> So, we’re both being detained. >> You are being detained. I’m being detained because because someone didn’t see me. So now y’all want to know >> people didn’t see you. Multiple people that honestly are in your corner. You can’t even say they’re a biased witness because they’re not helping you out.

>> Celeste was charged with firstdegree murder, concealing a death, and seven counts of firstdegree cruelty to children. Britney was charged with cruelty to children, concealing the death of another person, and filing a false police report. Amari’s brother and sister were removed from the home and placed in the custody of the division of family and children services.

Law enforcement officers collected donations from their fellow officers and raised more than $3,500 for the children in less than a week. During their first court appearance, both Britney and Celeste were informed that they would not be granted bond. Celeste did not appear to be bothered by the decision at all.

She was even laughing as she signed the paperwork. >> There is no bond today. Any other questions? >> Britney Hall faced a judge for the first time in awette county courtroom Wednesday. Gwynette police say the woman told them where they could find the body of her 8-year-old daughter after her arrest Monday night. >> There is no bond on the felonies have been denied since you’re a danger to the person.

Only a superior court judge sitting in your case can grant a bond. Do you understand that? Do you know what that means for you? Means you’re gonna be here for a while. Okay. Hall’s partner, 29-year-old Celeste Owens, also appeared in court. She’s charged with felony murder, making false statements, cruelty to children, and concealing a death.

Both women asked for an attorney, a judge assigning each of them a public defender. The judge said a date has not yet been set for next appearances. Until then, both women will remain locked up. However, as detectives reviewed additional evidence, including the videos found on Celeste’s phone, testimony from the other children, and the medical examiner’s findings.

Prosecutors concluded that Britney had not only allowed the abuse to continue, but had also actively participated in it, ultimately leading to Amari’s death. As a result, the charges against Britney were upgraded to include murder. She was later indicted by a grand jury on charges of felony murder, multiple counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another person, [music] and making false statements.

In the state of Georgia, felony murder means that a person can be found guilty of murder if a death occurs during the commission of another felony, even if that person did not personally inflict the fatal injury. The family had already been on the radar of child protective services for several years. However, none of the previous reports resulted in a full investigation.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services said previous reports involving Nicole Amari Hall consisted of unsubstantiated investigations in two,5 [music] and 2017 as well as one report received in 2000 21 that contained no allegations of child abuse or [music] neglect. Based on those records, the Department of Human Services had no reason to believe that the children were in immediate danger.

We are working closely with law enforcement to [music] assist with their investigation and to ensure safety and well-being of the mother’s other children. >> Opening statements are currently underway for Celeste Owens, one of the two women accused of killing an 8-year-old and [music] trying to cover up her death.

Well, Owens and the child’s mother, Britney Hall, they were indicted back in 2022 for the death of Amari Hall. Hall’s trial will happen at a later date. >> 3 years after Amari’s murder, the trial of Celeste Owens began. She pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against her. At that time she was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, multiple counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another person, and making false statements to the police. Celeste and Britney were tried

separately because Britney [music] had placed all of the blame on Celeste. Celeste public defender argued that she was not the person who killed Omari and did not inflict the fatal [music] injuries. The defense maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who had actually killed Amari.

>> Holds people accountable for the roles that they play in each of the crimes and she is responsible for the role that she played. They did this together. Their method was together. So it doesn’t matter who delivered the fatal blow because ladies and gentlemen, there was not one fatal blow. Every single blow was fatal to Marty.

Every single one. You saw that. You heard Dr. Downey say that. So remember because of the B batter child syndrome that he explained that we’ll talk about again a little later. Every single blow matters. It doesn’t matter. Just like it doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger. It doesn’t matter who delivered the fatal blow. It could be Britney.

It could be Celeste. It makes no difference. They are both guilty. And today is her day. >> However, the prosecution’s evidence was about as compelling as it could possibly be. Zire’s testimony about the ongoing abuse, the videos recovered from Celeste’s cell phone, surveillance footage showing the U-Haul truck rental, cell phone location data, and the lies, inconsistent statements all came together to paint an overwhelmingly incriminating picture.

The videos found on Celeste’s phone were so horrifying that one of the police officers testifying in court had to look away from the screen as he described what he had seen. Amari’s 9-year-old sister, Zire, testified by video link. She spoke about the abuse she had endured and about what Celeste told her that night regarding the bad kids hospital.

had toilet paper in her mouth and the next morning she wouldn’t wake up. >> Emotional testimony Wednesday from Amari Hall’s now 9-year-old little sister. >> Whitney tried to wake her up and then after that um she got put in a container with a lid on it and got put in a trunk of a car and drove to to the bad kids hospital.

She testified that they were forced to sleep on the floor without blankets and spend hours staring at the wall, trying to find something to do because they were not allowed to have any toys. And that was only a small part of everything they had endured. Despite everything she had been through and witnessed, Zy spoke with confidence.

She remained remarkably calm and composed throughout her testimony. She showed extraordinary courage for someone so young. Amari’s grandmother, Barbara, whom Amari called Gigi, also testified. She said she had never suspected that the children were being physically abused. She learned the truth at the same time as everyone else when the story appeared in the news.

For a period of time, Amari and her siblings had lived with Barbara and attended school while in her care. Barbara said that the child Britney had described as having behavioral problems [music] was absolutely not Amari. She was kind, well-mannered, and exceptionally bright. She loved learning and genuinely enjoyed going to school.

She never threw tantrums or behaved disrespectfully. At the end of 2020, the children returned to live with Britney. Barbara did not want them to leave, but she and her husband had no choice but to say goodbye. And after that, they completely lost contact with them. She called Britney over and over, hoping to speak with the children, but never succeeded.

She had no idea where they were living or what was happening in their lives. um with the reminded proviso. I know you guys want me to keep telling you this, but it’s very important that you not discuss this case, not research anything about this case, not watch any news or read any articles, um and don’t let anyone discuss it with you.

Does everybody understand that? >> All right, very good. After an emotionally exhausting trial that proved to be an immense ordeal for everyone involved, the jury finally reached its verdict. >> A woman will spend the rest of her life behind bars after [music] a Gwynette County jury found her guilty in the beating death of an 8-year-old girl.

>> In December 2024, Celeste Owens was found guilty on all charges against her. >> The court does hereby sentence you as follows. Count one, malice murder. You are hereby sentenced to [music] life without the possibility of parole. Counts seven merges with count three. Counts six [music] merges into count three and count five merges to count two.

On the remaining counts, counts eight through 18 and counts 19 and 21, the court does hereby sentence you to consecutive 235 years. So, life without parole plus 235 years. >> She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional two 135 years. Judge Angela Duncan, who had presided over the case ever since both defendants were denied.

However, in September 2, 2025, she accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to felony murder, 11 counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another person, and making false statements. She was also sentenced to life in prison. The prosecution said, “The things we saw in those videos are something we will never be able to forget.

What we heard throughout this trial will stay with us forever. This is the worst case involving a child that I have ever seen. This mother failed to protect her children. Even worse, she took part in the abuse herself. It all ended in tragedy. We continue to pray that her son and daughter can heal from the [music] abuse they endured and that this plea agreement will help bring at least some measure of peace to them and to their entire family.

Amari’s brother and sister are no longer in the custody of the division of family and children services. According to available information, they are now living with Barbara. They survived, but their lives will forever bear the scars [music] of that night. Amari’s grandmother, Barbara, said, “I will never get to watch her play sports.

I will never get to teach her how to [music] drive. I will never even get to see her go to prom or do all the things grandmothers dream of doing with their granddaughters.” My heart has been shattered into millions of pieces, and I still have not been able to put it back together.

This case is a tragic reminder of how vulnerable children can be, the devastating consequences of abuse, and how fragile childhood truly is. Amari’s life was only just beginning. Yet, she was killed by the very people she should have been able to trust the most. Every child deserved safety, love, and a future.

Amari deserved a far better life than the one she was given. Thank you for staying until the end. Stories like this are never easy to carry with you. And Amari’s story is one that will stay in my heart for a long time. If you would like to honor her memory, please leave a few kind words in the comments. May her name never be forgotten.