Norcross Mother Pleads Guilty to Murder in 8-Year-Old Daughter’s Beating Death
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.—A Norcross mother has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of her 8-year-old daughter in 2021.
Brittany Nicole Hall, 31, pled guilty to felony murder, 11 counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another, and making false statements in connection with the death of Amari Hall.
Hall and her girlfriend, Celeste Owens, initially reported Amari missing on November 19, 2021, claiming the child vanished from their Norcross hotel room. Investigators quickly determined the story was false and uncovered evidence of extensive abuse against Amari and her two younger siblings.
Evidence included:
- Web searches on Owens’ phone on the day of the initial report, including “Lakes near me,” “How do sewers on the streets work,” and “U-Haul: Customer Account.”
- More than a dozen “nanny-cam” videos showing Hall and Owens beating all three children.
- Surveillance footage showing Owens renting a U-Haul van and driving it to DeKalb County.
Investigators eventually located Amari Hall’s body in a wooded area of DeKalb County.
Hall’s girlfriend, Celeste Owens, was previously found guilty in December and sentenced to life plus 235 consecutive years in prison.
“This mother failed to protect her children and joined in the abuse,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “We continue to pray that her siblings can heal from the abuse they endured and that this plea brings closure to them and their extended family.”
