Wilson County deputies find 14-year-old boy dead in ditch, man arrested for murder

Deputies found Bernard Williams at 9:16 a.m. Sunday on Landfill Road near U.S. Highway 264 Alternate East.

When emergency medical services (EMS) and deputies arrived at the scene, EMS personnel declared Williams dead.

On Monday, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Rasheem TyTavious Battle.

Battle, 19, of Wilson, is charged with first-degree murder.

Williams' mother, Crystal Harris, said she can't stop thinking about it.

"He won't be able to ever go to prom," Harris said. "I'll never see him get married or have his first child."

Harris said her son was nicknamed "Tankman."

"He was sweet, he knew a lot of people, he was friendly, he made friends easily," Harris said of her son. "He was a jokester. He loved to clown and make jokes, give you little nicknames."

The sheriff's office has not provided a cause of death as of Monday evening.

"Why me?" Harris said. "I had just lost his dad seven months ago.

"So, I was back in the same situation again. I’m just wondering why. Why would somebody do this to my son? He wasn’t a bad child."

On Thursday night, Williams' family is planning a vigil and balloon release.

"He was very loved, and I just couldn't see anybody wanting to harm him," Harris said.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information should call the Wilson County Sheriff's Office at 252-237-2118.