Tamera “Tammy” Williams is charged with the September 2018 murder of her boyfriend, David Carter, a 39-year-old father from Melvindale, Michigan, whose dismembered remains were found scattered along Interstate 75 in Ohio. She has been a fugitive since shortly after the killing and now sits on the U.S. Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to her arrest.1U.S. Marshals Service. Tamera Renee Williams
What Happened to David Carter
Carter’s family couldn’t reach him in late September 2018. When relatives went to his Melvindale apartment, they found the door unlocked, his car still parked outside, and the inside in disarray with visible bloodstains. He was a father to a young son named DJ and had no reason to leave on his own. His family called police.
On October 1, 2018, an Ohio Department of Transportation worker noticed what looked like a sleeping bag in the weeds along I-75 in Eagle Township, about 50 miles south of Toledo. Inside were the lower torso and legs of a man. Carter’s father, Elton, confirmed the identification when authorities asked whether his son had a pit bull tattoo on his upper left leg.
More of Carter’s remains turned up over the following days in bags along I-75. His head was recovered separately, in a duffel bag at another spot along the same highway. That recovery let forensic examiners determine the cause of death: a single gunshot wound below the left ear, the bullet exiting through the top of his head. The remains were scattered across roughly 100 miles of highway.
Why Investigators Charged Tamera Williams
Investigators focused on Williams, Carter’s girlfriend, almost immediately. Inside the apartment they found a blood-soaked mattress and a bullet hole in the wall. Authorities believe Williams shot Carter, likely while he was in bed, on a Saturday night or early Sunday morning, then dismembered his body with a kitchen knife and drove the remains into Ohio in bags.
Her behavior after Carter went missing troubled both investigators and his family. She showed little concern about where he was and was seen making significant cash withdrawals in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in mid-October 2018. The U.S. Marshals Service believes she left Michigan around that time and has not been seen or heard from since.2U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Marshals Elevate Eastern Michigan Woman Suspected of Murder, Dismembering Body to 15 Most Wanted List
The Charges Against Her
On December 20, 2018, the 24th District Court issued a felony warrant charging Williams with first-degree homicide, disinterring a dead body, and tampering with evidence.2U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Marshals Elevate Eastern Michigan Woman Suspected of Murder, Dismembering Body to 15 Most Wanted List By then, she had already disappeared. The gap between the killing in September and the warrant in December gave her a substantial head start.
Where the Manhunt Stands
The search has escalated over the years. In 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service elevated the investigation to major case status and offered a reward of up to $10,000. In September 2023, the agency placed Williams on its 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list and raised the reward to $25,000.2U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Marshals Elevate Eastern Michigan Woman Suspected of Murder, Dismembering Body to 15 Most Wanted List
Williams is a trained phlebotomist, and authorities believe she may be working in a medical clinic under a different identity. She has used the alias Tamera Renee Pierce. Her physical description at the time of the warrant: 5 feet 5 inches tall, approximately 190 pounds, with a tattoo on her left upper arm. She was born on March 18, 1979.1U.S. Marshals Service. Tamera Renee Williams Her appearance may have changed over the years she has been on the run.
As of early 2025, Williams remains at large. She has been a fugitive for more than six years.
Helping Her Hide Is Its Own Federal Crime
Anyone assisting Williams risks serious federal charges. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1071, concealing someone with a federal arrest warrant is a crime in itself. Because Williams faces felony charges, anyone who harbors or conceals her knowing of the warrant can be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison, a fine, or both.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 18 – Section 1071 Prosecutors don’t have to prove involvement in the original crime, only knowledge of the warrant and steps taken to keep her hidden.
How to Report a Tip
The U.S. Marshals Service operates a 24-hour tip line at 1-877-WANTED2 (1-877-926-8332). Information can also be submitted through the USMS Tips App or by contacting a local U.S. Marshals district office.4U.S. Marshals Service. Submitting a Tip A tip that leads to Williams’s arrest may qualify for the $25,000 reward.1U.S. Marshals Service. Tamera Renee Williams Anyone who recognizes her, or who notices someone matching her description working in a medical setting under a different name, is urged to contact authorities.