MANSFIELD — The maternal grandmother of a 1-year-old child, whose parents both died in a kidnapping/murder earlier this week in Kentucky, has been granted temporary custody of the boy.
An attorney representing Ernestine Williams of Mansfield obtained temporary custody through a Richland County Domestic Relations Court order. Williams is the grandmother of Kylo Williams, who turned 1-year-old on Feb. 1.
According to a motion filed Tuesday from attorney Dawn Fesmier Pigg, the child has lived with Williams, both normally and during the mother’s absence. The motion said Williams and the child have a close bond.
A court spokesman said Friday the motion for temporary custody was granted and a hearing is scheduled March 13 at 1:15 p.m.
The child is the son of Skylar Williams and 24-year-old Ty’rell Pounds, both killed in Kentucky earlier this week.
A report from the Mansfield Police Department called Pounds an ex-boyfriend of Williams. The two Mansfield residents were litigating the parental rights and responsibilities for the child, according to paperwork filed in Domestic Relations Court.
It was not the first court filing between the two. According to a Mansfield police report, on Jan. 18 Williams accused Pounds of rape in a September, 2018 incident. No charges have been filed in that case, according to the Richland County Prosecutor‘s Office.
Pounds allegedly abducted Williams, 20, at gunpoint from The Ohio State University Mansfield campus just before noon on Monday. Authorities believe he drove her south on Interstate 71 and led Kentucky State Police on a car chase before being stopped. KSP reported he shot Williams and was then killed in a gun battle with troopers.
The court motion, filed before the fate of the two was known, notes “the child and grandmother have a close bond and (seeks) temporary custody to her to ensure safety and well-being of the child until his mother is located and or able to resume care of this minor child.”
On Monday, Pounds posted a chilling note for his son on his Facebook page stating to his family “there is nothing you guys could have done to stop me!!”
In the post, Pounds told his son, “Your mother kept me away from you and I was fighting for you through the court system.”
Pounds was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting in Kentucky, according to authorities.
The incident shook the Mansfield campus and drew widespread attention.
“Please join me in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Skylar Williams. Her death is a terrible tragedy that has left our campus community deeply shocked and saddened,” said Norman Jones, Dean & Director of Ohio State University Mansfield. “My thoughts and prayers are especially with all those who knew and loved her.”Â
On Monday afternoon, The Ohio State University Mansfield posted a notice on its website that Williams was forced into a car at gunpoint while standing in a parking lot on campus at approximately 11:45 a.m.
According to a Mansfield Police report filed on Monday at 1:56 p.m., Pounds’ roommate reported Pounds and Williams were both at his Wood Street apartment. The roommate stated Williams wasn’t hurt, but she was crying. The roommate noted Pounds had a gun and was very serious. He took the roommate’s keys and his phone and allegedly stole his vehicle.
The roommate said he knew Pounds was going through custody issues with Williams and the two left before the roommate could get dressed. The roommate went to a friend’s house to call police but they were already there when he arrived.
In an update at 2:05 p.m., the school posted on its website that authorities believe Pounds stole a vehicle at gunpoint. Pounds apparently drove south on I-71 and crossed into Kentucky. He drew the attention of authorities near Louisville, and led them on a multi-county car chase. Authorities reported two attempts at using stop sticks were unsuccessful.
Pounds crossed Highway 329 in Oldham County and attempted to re-enter the interstate, according to authorities. Due to public safety concerns, the primary Kentucky State Police unit performed a legal intervention stop to prevent Pounds’ vehicle from re-entering the highway. The vehicle came to rest on the ramp, and an unidentified trooper attempted to apprehend the subject.
Authorities stated that while attempting to apprehend the suspect, the trooper heard a gunshot coming from within the vehicle which he perceived as an immediate and deadly threat to himself and the female passenger, Williams. The trooper drew his service weapon and fired, at which time the suspect (Pounds) was struck, resulting in his death at the scene.
During this event, the female passenger (Williams) was struck by at least one round of gunfire. Williams was transported by Oldham County EMS to the University of Louisville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by the Jefferson County Coroner.
According to Pounds’ Facebook page, he graduated from North Central State College in April 2018. He was a Mansfield Senior alumnus.
Williams’ Facebook page said she attended Mansfield Senior and Madison. She was studying physical therapy at OSU-Mansfield.
