Students return to school in Garner without their teacher
GARNER, NC (WTVD) -- Some kindergarten students at Timber Drive Elementary School in Garner learned Monday that their teacher is dead.
Police in Cary say Michele Kennington Williams, 51, was shot to death Friday evening by her estranged husband, 55-year-old David Sloan Williams in the 1200 block of Collington Drive, where she was staying temporarily.
Grief counselors were available for students at Timber Drive on Monday.
The school released this statement: "All of us at Timber Drive Elementary and our entire school community are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear colleague, our friend, Michele Williams. She was a dedicated, hardworking, and loving teacher who gave her students the gift of her smile each and every day," said Timber Drive Elementary school Principal Kim Burton. "Our hearts go out to Michele's family and friends."
After the murder, Allison Williams, the suspect and victim's daughter, released a hand-written statement.
"She was my very best friend and I love her more than anyone in the world. To know my mom was to love her. Mom's family, friends, and students were so very lucky to know her. My mommy may not be physically with me anymore, but I know that she lives on in the hearts of the many, many people that love her," Allison wrote.
Williams was sitting in her car at 6:38 p.m. Friday night when police say David Williams opened fire -- striking and killing her. Several rounds hit nearby homes but no one else was hurt.
David Williams turned himself in to officers working at Cary Towne Center around 7:15 p.m.
"He came over and turned himself in to one of our officers," said Randall Rhyne, captain of Cary PD Criminal Investigations Division. "He just said that he thought we may want to speak to him. That was all the information he gave us."
David Williams is charged with murder. He made a court appearance Monday and did not make eye contact with his ex-wife's family in the courtroom.
