DeKalb County: Clarkston man sentenced to life for murder of his 72-year-old stepmother

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—William Daniel Wright has been sentenced to serve life in prison, plus five years for the murder of his stepmother, Debra Wright, 72, the Office of the DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston announced this week.

The Clarkston man was found guilty on Aug. 29 of killing Debra Wright over the pending sale of his childhood home, which Daniel Wright’s father, her late husband left her.

Jurors found Wright guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.

According to the investigation, officers from the Clarkston Police Department responded to a call of a person shot in the 1100 block of Rogers Street in Clarkston on Feb. 17, 2023. Upon arrival at the home, police found a woman dead in the driver’s seat of a car in the driveway. The victim had been shot and was identified as Debra Wright.

Investigators learned through interviews with family members and neighbors that Debra Wright’s relationship with her stepson had become contentious when she asked him to purchase the home or move out so that she could sell the home.

During an interview with police, Defendant Wright admitted to being with his stepmother on the date of the incident. He said he traveled with her to a credit union and transferred money into her account as payment on his childhood home that she owned, then they returned to the house. He told investigators that he entered the home, and when he went back outside, Debra Wright was still in the driveway on the phone. He told investigators that he left the house in a rideshare vehicle and was at a bar until early the next morning.

Officers were able to determine, however, that blood stains on a jacket that the defendant was wearing when he was eventually arrested as he was caught running from the was confirmed to match the victim, and the handgun that he had on him was a positive match to the bullet that killed Debra Wright. 

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris presided over the trial.

The case, assigned to the Homicide & Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kara Roberts with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Parker Aziz, District Attorney Investigator J.B. Williams, and Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor. Clarkston Police Department Det. William Hilton led the initial investigation.