Dorchester County, South Carolina on connection with the August 3 discovery of 18-year-old Antwon Javice Carmichael’s body wrapped on a mattress by a rural Dorchester County road, four adults are being charged with his murder.
Antwon’s family intends to carry up the fight for justice and to preserve his memory even as they grieve the loss of their loved one.
Antwon’s mother, Janietha Gary, described him as the youngest of four siblings, headstrong, and passionate about music.
As he matured, that enthusiasm evolved into Antwon and his pals playing local shows all throughout Charleston. According to his mother, Antwon expressed himself through songwriting.
He was adaptable. Janietha clarified that Antwon enjoyed rap, R&B, and rapid music. Antwon’s writing would demonstrate his preference for adaptability, and in addition to writing, he would also perform and produce videos to go along with his songs.
In order to develop his musical abilities, Antwon was scheduled to visit Lusaka, Zambia, with his mother and aunt prior to his passing. Antwon was able to record with local artists thanks to arrangements made by his aunt and uncle.
Janietha was waiting for her son to come to Lusaka when she first learned about his passing. They talked about his upcoming flying schedule during one of their final conversations.
A few days later, a young woman who knew Antwon called Janietha after seeing the SLED sketch made public by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.
The girl called at four in the morning in Lusaka. Janietha stated that she hadn’t been able to sleep for days, which was why she was awake.
The teenager gave Janietha the sketch that was connected to an article about officials trying to identify a body found in rural Dorchester County after asking if she had heard anything about Antwon.
“I recognize my son from the picture,” she remarked. He was wearing a chain that his brother had given him around his neck. Here in our house, I have a video showing [his brother] securing the chain around his neck. The tooth: His tooth is damaged. I was aware that it was my child.
“All I could do was scream,” she remarked.
When Janietha learned, she was also speaking with Layla, Antwon’s sister, on the phone.
Janietha remarked, “She [Layla] had this moment where she was just so angry, so hurt.”
Even though Layla didn’t have her car when she learned, she went to her other brother’s workplace to inform him of Antwon’s fate.
On August 22, Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson declared that four people had been taken into custody in relation to Antwon’s passing.
Jay Sneed, 40, faces charges of desecration of human remains, murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The charges against Jessicle Williams, 34, include murder and accessory before the fact of destruction of human remains.
Two more are accused of sacrilege and accessory to human remains.
The Dorchester County correctional facility is where the four accused are now being held.
Antwon and Jay had remained friends over the years, even though Janietha and Jay had been engaged for a number of years before to the murder. When the two were still together, the family lived in the house on Peppertree Lane in North Charleston, where Antwon was reportedly murdered.
Janietha remarked, “He treated him like a father figure.”
Janietha then said, “I never would have imagined that Jay Sneed and Jessicle Williams would have killed Antwon.”
She claimed to have gone through a range of emotions after learning of her son’s murder.
“I feel irritated because something is missing from me. She remarked, “I try to remember all the good times.” “You know, I have his ashes in an urn, and I want to look at the wall with his picture on it.”
“A friend once told me that grief is love with nowhere to go, and that’s what I’m going through right now,” she continued. “I’m struggling with myself to keep going.”
According to Janietha, her son was hilarious and vivacious. Antwon was the male equivalent of Janietha, according to family members, and the two were close.
He would joke around, something his brother Jtwon adored. He described how the family was able to enjoy a rare snowy day together one day. Antwon entered the house and struck Jtwon with a snowball while he was still in bed.
After the brothers exchanged a few snowballs, Jtwon had to prepare for work. When it was time to depart, Jtwon claimed he attempted to slip out the back door, but as he reached his car door, he heard someone say, “You thought you were gonna get away, huh?”
Jtwon claimed that more snowballs were thrown at him and that he was unable to open the door fast enough. As Jtwon attempted to escape, both brothers were slipping, laughing, and falling over the ice.
“As the eldest, you’re expected to do almost everything before your siblings, including your first relationship, job, car, etc., and when it comes to death, I’m always expected to go before my siblings. I’d even sacrifice my life if necessary for my family, but it hurts to see my little brother go,” Jtwon said. “I am confident that God will remember my brother and that he is not in pain. We would be doing a lot of things together like we were if he were still here.
Attending a Mother-Son Dance organized by AMIkids Beaufort is one of Janietha’s best memories of her son. The pair danced the night away while sporting matching burgundy and gold ensembles.
“Oh, we had a great time,” she remarked.
Antwon approached the DJ and offered her tissues after noticing that she was crying as a heartfelt song was being played during the dance.
“Antwon will be remembered for his joyous contributions to everyone’s lives, his generosity, and his fortitude throughout trying times. He had a talent for making others feel loved, appreciated, and seen. Timmira Galmer, Antwon’s girlfriend, stated that those who knew him will live their lives with love and compassion in addition to keeping his legacy alive in their hearts.
The circumstances behind the death of Jay, Jessicle, and Antwon have not been made public by the authorities. Janietha’s primary inquiry, when given the opportunity, was: Why did this happen to her son?
She claimed that because they were hollow individuals, they were unable to cope with the love that surrounded my son.
Janietha stated that she supports Antwon and plans to bring about justice for his killing.
“Every day we wake up to the aftermath,” she stated. “We’ll use this suffering to our advantage. We’ll do everything we can to pay tribute to him.
According to Janietha’s best friend Faye, “I knew Antwon to be a very sweet and caring young man.” “For all of us, this has been the most heartbreaking experience. It still seems so unreal. We have lost a priceless gem because of those bottom feeders, and I hope justice is done.
