After 14 Years, Arrests Made In Murder Of 16-Year-Old: Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Three brothers have been arrested in the 2006 murder of 16-year-old Amber Woods, whose body was found along State Road 62 just three miles west of the Hardee County line, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said at a Monday morning news conference.

Her boyfriend at the time, Ralph Williams, 36, and his brother, Tyjuan Williams, 32, face murder charges in the case. A third brother, Jamaine Brown, was arrested on kidnapping charges, the sheriff said.

Woods was last seen alive by her aunt at their Hardee County home in the 3100 block of State Road 62 around 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2006, Wells said. At 7:30 a.m. that same day, a person driving by spotted her body about 20 feet from the south side of the road. An autopsy confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound to her back.

At the time of her death, Woods was thought to be pregnant with Ralph’s child. In a text message found by detectives, Ralph, who was in his early twenties at the time, expressed concern that he could face criminal charges because she was underage, the sheriff said.

Despite numerous leads, MCSO wasn’t able to build a strong case, initially, Wells said. Detectives decided to reexamine the case in August 2019 using technology not available in 2006.

Using cellular tracking software, investigators determined that a phone used by Ralph was in the vicinity of where the teen’s body was found at the time of her death, the sheriff said.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Bradenton newsletters and real-time email alerts.

Brown was arrested on a kidnapping charge related to the case on May 20. During an interview, he told investigators that he and his brothers drove Woods to a rural location on State Road 62.

Once they were out of the car, Tyjuan shot the 16-year-old in the back, Brown told detectives. Then, Brown and Ralph dragged her body from the side of the road and hid it behind high grass before leaving it there, Wells said.

Ralph and Tyjuan were charged with second-degree murder on Dec. 15. Ralph is currently in jail in Polk County and Tyjuan is in Hardee County Jail on unrelated charges, the sheriff said. They’re awaiting extradition to Manatee County.