A 61-year-old Missouri woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say she fatally shot her boyfriend and his teenage daughter inside their shared home.
Linda Hayden has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in the deaths of Henry Williams, a former Berkeley fire chief, and his 15-year-old daughter, Ha’layna Elliot.
Discovery of the Victims
Officers with the Ferguson Police Department responded around 6:15 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 500 block of North Clay Avenue after family members discovered the victims. According to a criminal complaint, Williams had been shot in the back of the head, while Ha’layna suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead.
Police located Hayden locked inside a bedroom and took her into custody. Investigators said they recovered a .38-caliber revolver in the room with two spent shell casings in the chamber.
According to detectives, Hayden allegedly made a spontaneous statement after her arrest, saying she guessed she was “the villain in the story” and describing Williams as a “bad man and a narcissist.”
Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive. Court documents indicate that Hayden, Williams and Ha’layna all lived together in the home.
Remembering the Victims
Henry Williams became fire chief of the Berkeley Fire Department in 2003 at age 40 and later retired, according to local reporting. He remained active in the community, including coaching youth basketball.
Ha’layna was a sophomore at Pattonville High School and a standout basketball player. Teammates described her as a strong presence on the court, recalling that she was a reliable shooter and supportive teammate.
Williams also helped coach his daughter’s team, where he was known as an encouraging mentor to the players.
Legal Proceedings
Hayden is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on a $2 million bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 2.
