Georgia Mother Sentenced to Life After Killing 8-Year-Old Daughter and Faking Her Disappearance
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia mother who once reported her 8-year-old daughter missing has now been sentenced to life in prison after admitting she murdered the child with help from her girlfriend.
According to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, Brittany Hall, 31, pleaded guilty this week to felony murder, 11 counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another, and making false statements in connection to the 2021 killing of her daughter Amari Hall.
Internet Searches Exposed Cover-Up
Prosecutors revealed that Hall and her girlfriend, Celeste Owens, made disturbing online searches the day Amari was reported missing, including “What to do when a child just doesn’t listen,” “Lakes near me,” and “How does sewers on the streets work.” Investigators said these searches showed their attempts to plan how to hide Amari’s body.
Amari’s younger sister testified during Owens’ trial that she witnessed her mother shove toilet paper down Amari’s throat so she “wouldn’t wake up.” The girl described how Amari was later placed in a container with a lid, put in the trunk of a car, and driven away from the family’s Norcross hotel room.
Discovery of Amari’s Body
Authorities launched a search when Hall reported Amari missing on November 19, 2021, claiming she was “extremely concerned” for her daughter’s safety. Days later, investigators found Amari’s body wrapped in three trash bags and buried in a shallow grave near Stone Mountain Freeway in DeKalb County.
Surveillance footage presented in court showed Owens renting a U-Haul van and driving toward the wooded area where Amari was found. Prosecutors said Hall tried to blame Owens for the killing, but evidence confirmed both women were responsible.
Sentences and Aftermath
Owens was convicted in 2024 for her role in the murder. Hall’s guilty plea this week avoids a full trial but ensures she will spend the rest of her life in prison.
“This mother failed to protect her children and joined in the abuse,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “This ended tragically. We continue to pray that her siblings can heal from the abuse they endured and that this plea brings closure to them and their extended family.”
The two surviving siblings were placed in state custody following the arrests.
The case has drawn widespread attention for its shocking details and the betrayal of trust at its core. For more coverage of major crime cases and public safety news, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.