Tiliek Thompson surrendered to police nearly a week after Lovay Williams was found dead during a wellness check at her Manhattan apartment.
NEW YORK — A 41-year-old man has been charged with murder in the death of Lovay Williams, a 27-year-old mother who was found dead inside her Washington Heights apartment as her young daughter was in the home, police said.
Tiliek Thompson was charged Saturday after surrendering at the New York Police Department’s 33rd Precinct, according to police and published reports. Williams was discovered Sept. 6 at her apartment on West 156th Street, where officers had gone to conduct a wellness check. Police said she was unconscious and unresponsive and had injuries to her face and neck. Emergency medical workers pronounced her dead at the scene.
The charge marks a major development in an investigation that began with police pursuing what sources described as a domestic-related lead. Williams’ relatives have said she and Thompson had been dating. Authorities initially did not publicly identify the person investigators were seeking, and Thompson had not been charged when relatives and community members gathered earlier in the week to mourn Williams.
Thompson surrendered at the precinct Saturday with an attorney, according to published reports. He was later escorted from the station by detectives as relatives and supporters of Williams gathered outside. ABC7 reported that some relatives shouted as Thompson was led past police barricades. The filing of a murder charge is an accusation, and Thompson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Williams was found shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 after a relative sought a wellness check. Police said officers found her inside the apartment with visible trauma. Earlier reports from police sources said a child was inside the home when officers arrived. Williams’ family later identified the child as her 7-year-old daughter and said the girl had been present during the violence.
Family members have said the girl witnessed her mother’s killing. Authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of what the child may have seen, and police have not disclosed all of the evidence that led to the charge against Thompson. The investigation initially focused on the circumstances inside the apartment and on the movements of a man seen around the building before police arrived.
Neighbors described Williams as a quiet resident who was frequently seen with her daughter. One neighbor told CBS New York that Williams generally kept to herself, while another recalled hearing music and, at times, arguments from the apartment. Surveillance video described by a neighbor showed a man coming and going from the apartment building on the morning Williams was found, according to the station.
Williams’ relatives remembered her as a devoted mother. At a vigil earlier in the week, family members released green balloons and spoke about her relationship with her daughter. Her father, Nuquan Williams, said she loved music, people and, above all, her child. Her brother also described her as an attentive mother.
Domestic violence advocates joined relatives at the memorial as police continued their search. Stephanie McGraw, founder of WARM, said the case underscored the need to recognize warning signs of domestic abuse. Investigators had described the death as domestic-related before an arrest was announced.
Authorities have not publicly detailed a motive or released a complete account of the events leading to Williams’ death. Information about Thompson’s arraignment and the specific evidence supporting the murder charge was not immediately available in the reports reviewed Sunday. The criminal case now moves into the court process as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding Williams’ death.
Author note: Last updated September 13, 2026.