‘It’s heartbreaking.’ Mother demands justice as defendants in son’s death case are let out on bail
Emotions ran high as relatives of Michael Woody confronted the two defendants, whose actions prosecutors allege led to his death.
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A mother is demanding justice after the two people charged in connection with her son’s suspicious death were let out on bail.
The charges were outlined during an arraignment that drew a packed courtroom, with family members of both the victim and the defendants in attendance.
Emotions ran high as relatives of Michael Woody confronted the two defendants, whose actions prosecutors allege led to his death. Woody was found unresponsive in November 2024 inside the apartment he shared with his girlfriend.
Woody’s girlfriend, Kashaunna Watts, and a second defendant, William Mullens, are now charged with kidnapping, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the case.
“It’s heartbreaking. It shouldn’t have happened,” said Woody’s mother, Thea Woods.
Prosecutors say phone records, surveillance video and four eyewitness accounts form the core of their case.
According to investigators, Watts called her father following an argument with Woody and asked for help removing him from the apartment.
Authorities allege her father then traveled from upstate New York with Mullens, and the two arrived with zip ties and a bat.
“They meant to hurt my son. Now his daughter has no father,” Woods said.
She also described the extent of her son’s injuries, saying his skin was “ripped down to the white meat” on his arms and wrists from being bound with zip ties.
Investigators say Watts’ father, a former law enforcement officer, died by suicide before an arrest could be made.
Family members of Watts and Mullens were also present in court but declined to comment.
Woods said she is determined to see justice served.
“If I have to crawl, I will be here,” she said. “It ’s imperative that both of them go to jail. They took my son’s life for no reason.”
No murder charges have been filed in the case because the medical examiner did not rule Woody’s death a homicide.
Watts and Mullens are due back in court next month.
