Late Saturday evening in Greenville, neighbors in the quiet Moyewood community were shaken when 76-year-old Dessie Mae Williams was discovered dead inside her home on West Third Street under circumstances that local police are calling suspicious.
Just after 7:14 p.m. on December 13, 2025, Greenville police officers responded to a welfare check at 1802 West Third Street after a concerned citizen requested help. With assistance from housing staff, officers entered the residence and found Williams unresponsive. Despite their quick response, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
What began as a routine welfare check quickly turned into a grim investigation for detectives. Officials at the scene noted evidence that raised immediate red flags, prompting investigators to treat the death as suspicious rather than natural or accidental. The Pitt County community, still buzzing with holiday activity, was left grappling with the sudden and unsettling loss.
Investigators have not yet released specifics about what evidence triggered their concern, but they confirmed that the cause and manner of Williams’ death will be determined by an autopsy in the coming days. Authorities made clear that meticulous forensic work lies ahead as part of the inquiry.
Detectives on the case say they are following up on strong leads and are urging anyone with potentially relevant information to come forward. Tips can be submitted to Detective Elias at the Greenville Police Department or anonymously to Pitt County Crime Stoppers, a move aimed at encouraging community support for the ongoing investigation.
Residents of Moyewood, a neighborhood not usually in the headlines, described a tight-knit community rattled by the news. For many, Williams was known as a long-time neighbor and familiar presence on her block. The suddenness of her departure has left friends and neighbors searching for answers and closure.
As Greenville authorities continue piecing together the details of what happened that December evening, the case remains active and evolving. For now, the focus remains on understanding the full story behind a life that ended too soon, and on bringing clarity and peace to a community in mourning.
If you have information related to this case, contact:
• Greenville Police Department – Detective Elias at 252-329-4277
• Pitt County Crime Stoppers at 252-757-7777 — tips may be anonymous.
