Arrest Made in Felecia Williams' Murder

The Temple Terrace Police Department has made an arrest in the death of Felecia Williams, 9.

Police announced Friday that Granville Ashanti Ritchie, 35, faces first-degree murder, capital sexual battery and aggravated child abuse charges in the girl’s May 16 death.

Williams’ nude body was found around 3:30 p.m. May 17 by a person walking along the shoreline of the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The Clearwater Police Department was called to the scene and discovered the little girl suffered blunt force trauma to her head prior to her death, a media release from the Temple Terrace Police Department said. It was discovered the child had been sexually assaulted and was strangled to death.

Williams and the adult she was with, Eboni Wiley, were picked up around 3:30 p.m. May 16 by Ritchie, the release said. The three went to Ritchie’s 8910 Tanglewood Lane apartment in Temple Terrace. Just before 5 p.m., Wiley left the apartment for just over an hour, with Ritchie watching the girl.

“When Wiley returned to the apartment at approximately 6 p.m., Ritchie met her at the door, shirtless and sweating,” the email said. “Ritchie was highly upset and told Wiley that Felecia had ‘run off.’”

Ritchie initially told police he and Wiley were occupied in the bedroom when Williams left the apartment. Wiley, however, later admitted otherwise.

When police searched Ritchie’s apartment, they found evidence that indicated Williams’ body had been stuffed in a suitcase and dragged from the apartment.

Ritchie was arrested Friday morning at 11:30. He was being held in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. Ritchie has been arrested in Hillsborough in the past on charges such as domestic battery and drug possession, jail records indicate.

Photo Credit: Granville Ashanti Ritchie/Hillsborough County Jail