Malayya Williams Issah was 9 when she was found shot to death on the night of October 18, 2017, inside a Forrest City, Arkansas apartment. Her 6-year-old sister Zhanasia and their mother Nashae Williams were also found shot multiple times at the same scene after officers responded to reports of gunfire. The killings devastated the community; Malayya’s school held a balloon release and funeral services were announced in Forrest City.

Detectives quickly focused on a suspect, 30-year-old Cordale Stacy, identified by family and police as Nashae’s live-in boyfriend. Stacy surrendered to Forrest City police the morning after the shootings and was jailed pending charges. Prosecutors charged him with three counts of capital murder and sought the death penalty; alternative capital-murder theories were presented for the two child victims.

A jury later found Stacy guilty on all three counts and imposed three life-without-parole sentences plus a consecutive fifteen-year firearm enhancement. The community remembered Malayya as a joyful elementary student; obituary and funeral notices noted the family’s deep ties in Forrest City. Does anyone have additional memories of Malayya or information about that night that could help clarify what happened?