A Clarkston man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his stepmother amid a dispute over the sale of his childhood home, as announced by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. William Daniel Wright was found guilty by a jury on charges including Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, in the killing of 72-year-old Debra Wright. The conviction was reported on September 4 by the DeKalb District Attorney's Office.
Details from the investigation revealed that on the evening of February 17, 2023, Clarkston Police Department officers responded to a 911 call and found the victim deceased with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, sitting in her car. Neighbors provided statements and security camera footage that ultimately implicated Wright in the crime; one witnessed the suspect near the victim's vehicle, while another heard what they initially thought might be the sound of a falling tree, it was actually two popping noises around 4:30 p.m. which turned out to be gunfire, as detailed by the District Attorney's Office.
After a search warrant led to the discovery of ammunition matching the fatal bullet and the defendant's identification at the home, the situation came to a head when officers, visiting the residence again on the following day, did not find anyone at the location but shortly apprehended Wright nearby. He was found carrying a red and black jacket that was later found to have blood spatter stains matching the victim and in possession of a handgun that was positively matched to the murder weapon.
In his interaction with the police, Wright claimed he had been with his stepmother earlier on the day she was killed; he admitted to accompanying her to a credit union, where he transferred money into her account as payment towards the home, which followed with him claiming he took a rideshare to a bar and stayed out until early the next morning. Following the announcement of the clear verdict, the presiding Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris immediately sentenced Wright to life imprisonment plus five additional years.
The successful prosecution was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kara Roberts, with the assistance of Senior Assistant District Attorney Parker Aziz and others, including District Attorney Investigator J.B. Williams and Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor, while Detective William Hilton of the Clarkston Police Department was credited with leading the initial investigation.
