
South Carolina Couple Sentenced in Death of Disabled 4-Year-Old Found in Dresser Drawer
By James Seidel | CC News Network
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The brutal death of India Heavenly Lacey Martin, a 4-year-old disabled child from South Carolina, ended in prison sentences for both of her caregivers after a years-long legal battle.
India Heavenly Lacey Martin, who could not walk or talk and required a feeding tube, was found dead inside a dresser drawer during a welfare check on May 26, 2020. Police discovered her body inside the Rock Hill home of her mother, Jackleen Mullen, and her mother’s boyfriend, Audrevious Jarrell Williams.
Mullen had initially lied to authorities, claiming India was staying with relatives in North Carolina. However, a search of the home led officers to the gruesome discovery. India had been severely beaten, according to police and prosecutors.
“This little girl died one of the most miserable deaths a child has ever had,” Rock Hill Detective Robert Smith said in court.
Now, nearly four years later, both Mullen and Williams have been sentenced in connection to her death.

Williams Sentenced to 12 Years After Plea Deal
On Thursday, Judge Eugene Griffith sentenced Williams, 31, to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting child abuse or neglect resulting in death.
Prosecutors had originally charged Williams with murder and homicide by child abuse, but those charges were dropped as part of his plea agreement.
Williams, who is not India’s biological father, lived with Mullen and was considered one of India’s caregivers. He later testified against Mullen in her 2023 trial, where she was convicted of homicide by child abuse.
Assistant Solicitors John Anthony and Erin Joyner, who led the prosecution, pushed for the maximum 20-year sentence, calling India’s death “senseless and avoidable.”
Mullen Serving 30-Year Sentence for Child’s Death
Mullen, now 28 years old, was convicted in November 2023 after a York County jury found her guilty of homicide by child abuse. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison and is currently incarcerated at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood County.
She is not eligible for parole, and her projected release date is July 2047.
Bringing the Case to a Close
The case took nearly four years to resolve.
Both Mullen and Williams were initially charged with murder and homicide by child abuse. However, in Mullen’s 2023 trial, the jury acquitted her of murder but convicted her of homicide by child abuse.
Under South Carolina law, homicide by child abuse applies when a child under the age of 11 dies as a result of abuse or neglect, under circumstances showing “extreme indifference to human life.”
Williams’ defense attorney, Geoff Dunn, said his client “took responsibility for his role in this tragic case.”
“I am glad the court gave Mr. Williams a sentence that balanced the need to hold him accountable with the hope of a second chance,” Dunn said.
Williams will receive credit for the 931 days he has already spent in the York County jail while awaiting trial.
With both Mullen and Williams now behind bars, prosecutors say they hope India’s memory is honored, and that those responsible for her suffering are held accountable.
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