Father Arrested In Baby And Mother's Deaths

BRADENTON, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in the Sunday morning deaths of a mother and her 8-month-old son. Deputies say Larry Bernard Williams, 20, faces two counts of murder and a single count of arson.

The deaths of Diamond Shelman, 18, and Jeremiah Shelman, 8 months, were discovered after a firefighter on his way into work came across blaze at the Avalon Square Apartments on 14th Street West just before 7 a.m. Aug. 27. The Cedar Hammock Fire Department responded to the firefighter’s call for help.

Get the Bradenton Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

Once firefighters were able to gain access to the apartment, they found the woman and baby dead inside. The discovery has kicked off death and arson investigations.

Manatee County deputies say Diamond Shelman “had trauma to her body inconsistent with fire-related injuries,” an email said.

Williams, an email from the sheriff's office said, was Diamond's boyfriend "and father of Jeremiah."

Like Bradenton Patch on Facebook:

Photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office