Charles Sims pleads guilty in the May death of La’Datra Williams

It hasn’t taken Charles Matthew Sims long to end the waiting in the case of La’Datra Williams, who was found dead on his property just last month.

Sims, 57, of Silver Creek, stood before Judge Brad Touchstone on Monday and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of the mother of four of his children.

Williams was reported missing on May 25. Investigators spent weeks chasing leads and looking for her, executing search warrants and chasing leads, but on July 14 the case took a chilling turn.

Sims — who had been in custody since Friday, July 11 — requested to speak with him through sheriff’s office personnel. Sims informed the sheriff that searchers would “never find L. Williams” where they were currently looking and offered to lead them to her location.

With step-by-step directions, Sims led investigators to a location where he claimed to have buried the missing woman.

According to District Attorney Hal Kittrell, Sims told authorities the fatal confrontation stemmed from an argument about their breakup.

The area deep in the Lawrence County woods where the body of La’Datra Williams was recovered.

Sims waived his right to an indictment and accepted a life sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Assistant District Attorneys Reginald “Chip” Lewis and Laurel Brinkley prosecuted the case.

DA Kittrell expressed gratitude to the many law enforcement agencies involved and acknowledged the emotional toll the case has taken.

“We’re grateful Mr. Sims took responsibility and spared Ms. Williams’ family the pain of a trial,” he said. “While nothing can undo this tragedy, we hope her loved ones find some measure of peace knowing he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars.”