A reward of £20,000 has been put up for key information about the death of a North East teenager. 

Kieran Williams, 18, went missing from his home in Esplanade West, Sunderland, on April 18, 2022. 

More than a month later, Kieran’s body was found in a makeshift grave on a disused industrial estate in Sunderland, south of the River Wear, between the Northern Spire Bridge and Claxheugh Rocks. 

Kieran had been stabbed multiple times and his body set on fire.

Now, his mother, Tracey Williams, has issued a heartfelt plea for information, as Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward or anonymous information on the death of Kieran Williams from Sunderland.

I wake up heartbroken and fall asleep crying. - Tracey Williams

 

“As a mother I cannot express the horror and ongoing trauma that I feel. I wake up heartbroken and fall asleep crying. It’s an ongoing torture to know that I will never spend one more moment with my son.

“I am desperate for justice for Kieran, just as any other parent would be. I continue to walk the streets where Kieran was last seen in the hope that someone, anyone, will tell me what happened to my son and why.

“I know that there are people out there who know what happened to Kieran.

“I am a proud woman and a proud mother, but I am begging anyone with information to come forward."

After the teenager's body was found, two men were later charged in connection with Kieran’s death and stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where they were both acquitted of murder. One of the men, 20-year-old Louis Hackett, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for five years. 

Whilst Louis Hackett’s fingerprints were found, there were other unidentified fingerprints left around the grave. It is hoped that the public’s help in identifying whoever left those fingerprints will assist in bringing Kieran’s killers to justice.

A judge concluded at the hearing that Kieran’s killer remains at large, and stated, "The real perpetrator or perpetrators have got away with it. Justice has not been done."

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We believe there are people who know what happened but may have been too scared to come forward or because of misplaced loyalty. This is their chance to make things right. 

- Crimestoppers

Fleur Brown, North East Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Kieran was only 18 years old and his murder was horrific. As the judge stated, the perpetrator or perpetrators are still out there. 

“We believe there are people who know what happened but may have been too scared to come forward or because of misplaced loyalty. This is their chance to make things right whilst staying completely anonymous when you contact our charity. 

“Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is reaching out to anyone who has stayed silent but now wants to do the right thing. Even if they think that what they know is insignificant, I urge them to tell us."