DeKalb County District Attorney
09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 09:30
CLARKSTON MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF HIS STEPMOTHER
September 4, 2024
State v. William Daniel Wright
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Clarkston man who murdered his stepmother over the pending sale of his childhood home.
On Thursday, August 29, jurors found William Daniel Wright guilty on counts of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, stemming from the murder of Debra Wright, 72.
According to the investigation, on the evening of February 17, 2023 officers with the Clarkston Police Department responded to a call of a person shot in the 1100 block of Rogers Street in Clarkston. Upon arrival at the home, they found a woman dead in the driver's seat of a car in the driveway. The victim appeared to have a gunshot entry wound on the right side of her head. The driver's side front window was shattered, and a projectile was located a few feet from the car. It appeared that the bullet exited the victim and broke the window.
Officers spoke with several witnesses. A neighbor stated that he observed Debra's vehicle with a broken window in the driveway of the home. Upon closer look, he saw Debra slumped over in the vehicle and called 911. He noted to officers that a man named Daniel lived in the home.
Another neighbor stated that he heard two popping sounds around 4:30 p.m., went out to investigate, and thought a tree may have fallen. He observed Defendant Wright standing in front of the house across the street near the victim's vehicle. He also provided still photos from his security camera that showed the passenger door of the victim's vehicle open, and blurry footage of a tall man wearing a dark top or jacket standing near the vehicle.
During the execution of a search warrant, officers found Defendant Wright's driver's license and social security card in the home, as well as a bag containing bullets that appeared to match the bullet found near the victim's car.
The next day, the victim's sibling spoke with police and advised that Debra had moved into the home on Rogers Street 20 years earlier when she married, and that William Daniel Wright is her stepson. The sibling shared that Debra's husband died and left the home to her. Debra's relationship with her stepson had become contentious when she asked him to purchase the home or move out so that she could sell. A neighbor confirmed that the sale of the home was set to close the next week.
Officers visited the residence again and observed signs that someone had returned, but did not find anyone at home. They canvased the area and found a man walking nearby who fit the description of the defendant. He was carrying a red and black jacket in a bundle near his mid-section. Officers approached him and verbally confirmed that he was Daniel Wright.
Defendant Wright was ordered to the ground and to drop the jacket. He refused to comply and moved his hands toward his waistband, where officers observed a handgun. He was placed in handcuffs without further incident. Officers found bullets in the handgun that appeared match those found at the home and in the driveway, and observed blood spatter stains on the jacket. The blood was later confirmed to match the victim, and the handgun was a positive match to the bullet that killed Debra.
During an interview with police, Defendant Wright admitted to being with his stepmother on the date of the incident. He claimed to have traveled with her to a credit union and transferred money into her account as payment on his childhood home that she owned, then they returned to the house. He entered the home, and when he went back outside Debra was still in the driveway on the phone. He claimed that he left the house in a rideshare vehicle and was at a bar until early the next morning.
Immediately following the verdict, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Wright to life in prison, plus five years.
The case, assigned to the Homicide & Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kara Roberts with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Parker Aziz, District Attorney Investigator J.B. Williams, and Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor. Clarkston Police Department Det. William Hilton led the initial investigation.
State v. William Daniel Wright
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Clarkston man who murdered his stepmother over the pending sale of his childhood home.
On Thursday, August 29, jurors found William Daniel Wright guilty on counts of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, stemming from the murder of Debra Wright, 72.
According to the investigation, on the evening of February 17, 2023 officers with the Clarkston Police Department responded to a call of a person shot in the 1100 block of Rogers Street in Clarkston. Upon arrival at the home, they found a woman dead in the driver's seat of a car in the driveway. The victim appeared to have a gunshot entry wound on the right side of her head. The driver's side front window was shattered, and a projectile was located a few feet from the car. It appeared that the bullet exited the victim and broke the window.
Officers spoke with several witnesses. A neighbor stated that he observed Debra's vehicle with a broken window in the driveway of the home. Upon closer look, he saw Debra slumped over in the vehicle and called 911. He noted to officers that a man named Daniel lived in the home.
Another neighbor stated that he heard two popping sounds around 4:30 p.m., went out to investigate, and thought a tree may have fallen. He observed Defendant Wright standing in front of the house across the street near the victim's vehicle. He also provided still photos from his security camera that showed the passenger door of the victim's vehicle open, and blurry footage of a tall man wearing a dark top or jacket standing near the vehicle.
During the execution of a search warrant, officers found Defendant Wright's driver's license and social security card in the home, as well as a bag containing bullets that appeared to match the bullet found near the victim's car.
The next day, the victim's sibling spoke with police and advised that Debra had moved into the home on Rogers Street 20 years earlier when she married, and that William Daniel Wright is her stepson. The sibling shared that Debra's husband died and left the home to her. Debra's relationship with her stepson had become contentious when she asked him to purchase the home or move out so that she could sell. A neighbor confirmed that the sale of the home was set to close the next week.
Officers visited the residence again and observed signs that someone had returned, but did not find anyone at home. They canvased the area and found a man walking nearby who fit the description of the defendant. He was carrying a red and black jacket in a bundle near his mid-section. Officers approached him and verbally confirmed that he was Daniel Wright.
Defendant Wright was ordered to the ground and to drop the jacket. He refused to comply and moved his hands toward his waistband, where officers observed a handgun. He was placed in handcuffs without further incident. Officers found bullets in the handgun that appeared match those found at the home and in the driveway, and observed blood spatter stains on the jacket. The blood was later confirmed to match the victim, and the handgun was a positive match to the bullet that killed Debra.
During an interview with police, Defendant Wright admitted to being with his stepmother on the date of the incident. He claimed to have traveled with her to a credit union and transferred money into her account as payment on his childhood home that she owned, then they returned to the house. He entered the home, and when he went back outside Debra was still in the driveway on the phone. He claimed that he left the house in a rideshare vehicle and was at a bar until early the next morning.
Immediately following the verdict, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Wright to life in prison, plus five years.
The case, assigned to the Homicide & Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kara Roberts with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Parker Aziz, District Attorney Investigator J.B. Williams, and Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor. Clarkston Police Department Det. William Hilton led the initial investigation.