Gwinnett County woman sentenced to life for deadly beating of 8-year-old girl, child’s mother awaits trial

Gwinnett County DA Patsy Austin-Gatson called the abuse by the couple “horrible”

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– A Norcross woman was convicted on Friday for killing her girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter by beating the child to death, then hiding the girl’s body in DeKalb County.

A Gwinnet County jury found Celeste Alexandria Owens, 32, guilty of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, 11 counts of cruelty to children, making a false statement, and concealing the death of another in the November 2021 death of Amari Hall. Owens was sentenced to life in prison plus 235 consecutive years without the possibility of parole.

Brittany Hall, the biological mother of Amari Hall, awaits trial at a later date. Both adults are accused of beating Hall’s three children. 

Amari Hall was reported missing on Nov. 19, 2021, from a hotel where she stayed with her mother, Brittany Hall, Owens, and two younger siblings, according to the investigation. Brittany Hall and Owens told police that they woke up and Amari Hall was gone. Owens told investigators that she had gone to her grandmother’s home in Tucker the night before and returned early that morning, only waking around 10 to discover the 8-year-old gone.

Police were able to determine that Owens was not telling the truth and noticed bruises and injuries on the two younger children. Investigators searched Owens’ phone and testified in court that they found web searches on the day of the initial report that included, “What to do when a child just doesn’t’ listen”, “Lakes near me”, “How does sewers on the streets work”, “Why do kids run away”, “How do I report someone missing”, and “U-Haul: Customer Account.” 

The trial also revealed more than a dozen videos that investigators found on the phone showing the adult couple beating all three children.

Surveillance footage showed Owens renting a U-Haul van and driving the van towards DeKalb County. Police located the child’s shallow grave in a wooded area off Stone Mille Drive in DeKalb County.

“This was a horrible way to treat these children and a tragedy that Amari Hall was killed as a result,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We pray that her sisters are able to heal from the abuse they endured and that their extended family can get a sense of closure.”

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Sabrina Nizam and Assistant District Attorney Bryan Brown prosecuted this case. DA’s Investigator Andrew Whaley and Victim Witness Advocate Wonsiah Kermah assisted greatly in the case. Gwinnett County Police Detectives Randy Blackburn, Angela Carter and Jonathan Sorensen were critical to the investigation.