Crimestoppers
Fearless
Northumbria: Reward of £20,000 amid renewed appeal to solve murder of Kieran Williams
We're offering a reward of £20,000 for anonymous information on the murder of Kieran Williams from Sunderland.
Kieran was 18 years old when he went missing from his Esplanade West home in Sunderland on 18 April 2022.
On 31 May 2022, Kieran’s body was found in a makeshift grave on a disused industrial estate in Sunderland, south of the River Wear, between the Northern Spire Bridge and Claxheugh Rocks.
Kieran had been stabbed multiple times and his body set on fire.
Subsequently, two men were later charged in connection with Kieran’s death and stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where they were both acquitted of murder. One of the men, 20-year-old Louis Hackett, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for five years.
Whilst Louis Hackett’s fingerprints were found, there were other unidentified fingerprints left around the grave. It is hoped that the public’s help in identifying whoever left those fingerprints will assist in bringing Kieran’s killers to justice.
A judge concluded at the hearing that Kieran’s killer remains at large, and stated, "The real perpetrator or perpetrators have got away with it. Justice has not been done."
Kieran’s mother, Tracey Williams, has issued a heartfelt plea for information:
“As a mother I cannot express the horror and ongoing trauma that I feel. I wake up heartbroken and fall asleep crying. It’s an ongoing torture to know that I will never spend one more moment with my son.
“I am desperate for justice for Kieran, just as any other parent would be. I continue to walk the streets where Kieran was last seen in the hope that someone, anyone, will tell me what happened to my son and why.
“I know that there are people out there who know what happened to Kieran.
“I am a proud woman and a proud mother, but I am begging anyone with information to come forward. Please try to imagine just for a moment the pain and desperation I continue to feel every minute of every hour of every day.”
***Crimestoppers – which is a national charity, independent of the police – is supporting the investigation by offering up to £20,000 for information we exclusively receive – via our website's online form or by calling 0800 555 111 – that leads to the arrest & conviction of those linked to this crime. The reward is available for three months and is due to expire on 18 January 2025.
Fleur Brown, North East Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said:
“Kieran was only 18 years old and his murder was horrific. As the judge stated, the perpetrator or perpetrators are still out there.
“We believe there are people who know what happened but may have been too scared to come forward or because of misplaced loyalty. This is their chance to make things right whilst staying completely anonymous when you contact our charity.
“Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is reaching out to anyone who has stayed silent but now wants to do the right thing. Even if they think that what they know is insignificant, I urge them to tell us.
“We hope that by appealing for anonymous information and offering a reward, Kieran’s family, finally, will have the answers they desperately need.”
***Information passed directly to police will not qualify for any reward. Only information passed directly to Crimestoppers using the anonymous online form or via our 0800 555 111 number will qualify.***
Anonymity:
Please note: With Crimestoppers and our youth service Fearless, when you visit our sites, computer IP addresses are never traced. Telephone calls are never recorded, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility. The charity is completely independent of the police and guarantees that your personal identity will always be protected.
Claiming a reward:
The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police. A reward code must be asked for when calling the charity on 0800 555 111. If you contact Crimestoppers via our anonymous online form, the 'keeping in contact’ facility must be used and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact with the charity.
