A North Carolina man will spend decades in prison after admitting to murdering a pregnant woman outside her home while her young daughter was inside. The case has left a family heartbroken and a community shocked.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Authorities say 33-year-old Desean Maddox pleaded guilty to:
Second-degree murder
Murder of an unborn child
Robbery with a dangerous weapon
As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to 25–31 years behind bars.
The Shooting of Jameisha Wilkes
On November 13, police in Charlotte responded to a call about an assault with a deadly weapon at a home on Strive Street. They found 26-year-old Jameisha Wilkes outside with a fatal gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Investigators later learned Maddox had come to her home, asked her to step outside, and then shot her. He also stole her phone and destroyed it by running over it with a car.
Relationship and Motive
According to reports, Wilkes did not know Maddox was married. He allegedly told a family member that he had been unfaithful and gotten Wilkes pregnant, then pressured her to have an abortion. That same family member later identified Maddox as the shooter to police.
A Daughter Left Behind
Wilkes was the mother of a 7-year-old daughter with autism, who is nonverbal. The child was inside the home when her mother was killed. Wilkes’ mother told local media the girl still does not understand why “mommy went outside and never came back in.”
Remembering Jameisha
Loved ones described Wilkes as a vibrant and loving person. Her obituary shared how she enjoyed puzzles, music, and bright colors that reflected her personality. More than anything, she was devoted to her daughter, Serenity, who was the center of her world.
The sentencing of Desean Maddox closes a painful chapter in court, but the impact of his actions will last forever. A little girl has lost her mother, and a family is left mourning a woman remembered for her joy, kindness, and love.
The case is also a sobering reminder of how domestic violence and hidden relationships can lead to tragic consequences.
