December 25, 2025 • 10 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In August 2000, seven-year-old Brittany Renee Williams disappeared from Henrico County, Virginia. A medically fragile child being treated for AIDS, Brittany stopped showing up to school, missed critical medical care, and vanished from the systems meant to protect her. For more than two decades, her case has raised troubling questions, with an investigation that still has no answers about what truly happened.
Anyone with information about the disappearance or whereabouts of Brittany Renee Williams should contact the Henrico County Police Department at 804-501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
This is the story of Brittany Renee Williams.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began in Henryko County, Virginia in
August of two thousand. A seven year old girl being
(00:23):
treated for AIDS stopped showing up to school, She stopped
receiving consistent medical care. She failed to appear at court hearings,
and the woman who was supposed to be caring for
her claimed the child was living with two women in California,
(00:43):
but when authorities tracked down those women, they said they
had never seen the girl. It would take nearly two
and a half years before a missing child investigation was
officially opened. By then, the woman who had custody had
collected twenty four thousand dollars in government benefits, money meant
(01:08):
for a child who could no longer be found in
the system. This is the story of Brittany Renee Williams.
Brittany Renee Williams was born March of nineteen ninety three
in Virginia. Her mother, Rose Murray Thompson, was diagnosed with
(01:33):
AIDS just three months before Brittany was born. From the
moment Brittany entered the world, her life was marked by
serious medical needs and instability. Rose Marie struggled with her
own health and with providing a stable home. As a result,
(01:55):
Britney spent time in foster care during her early years.
In nineteen ninety six, as rose Marie's health continued to decline,
she made a decision she believed would protect her daughter.
Around that time, she transferred guardianship of three year old
Brittany to a woman named Kim Parker. Parker was the
(02:20):
founder of Rainbow Kids, Incorporated, a group that provided care
for children with medical needs. On paper, it appeared to
be an ideal placement for a medically fragile child. Parker
operated a private foster home out of her house in
(02:40):
Henriko County. Over the years, she took in many children,
many with serious medical or developmental needs. On paper, it
appeared to be an idle placement for a child like Brittany.
Parker operated a price vi at foster home out of
(03:01):
her home in Henriiko County. Over the years, she took
in many children, many with serious medical or developmental needs.
Brittney lived with Kim Parker from nineteen ninety six until
two thousand. During that time, neighbors and acquaintances would later
(03:23):
report concerns about neglect. At least one neighbor said she
contacted authorities more than once. Others reported reaching out to
child protective services with similar worries. Despite these warnings, Brittany
remained in Parker's care, and then in August of two thousand,
(03:47):
Brittany renee Williams was last seen. After that, Britney stopped
appearing in places she was expected to be. She did
not return to school, leading to a truancy case. She
stopped receiving consistent medical care, a serious red flag. She
(04:10):
failed to appear for court ordered proceedings. When Kim Parker
was asked to produce Brittany, she did not. In court,
Parker claimed she had given Brittany to two women in California,
saying she could no longer care for her. When investigators
(04:33):
located those women, they said they never had custody of
Brittany and they did not know where she was. Despite
these warning signs, no immediate missing child investigation was launched.
Court hearings came and went. Explanations were accepted. Meaningful follow
(04:57):
up never came. It wasn't until January of two thousand
and three, nearly two and a half years after Brittany
was last seen, that she was finally reported missing. By then,
the most critical window of time had passed. Once the
(05:20):
case was opened, law enforcement began an extensive search. Investigators
search Kim Parker's home. They dug through her yard. They
even drained the septic system, searching for any sign of
what may have happened to Brittany. There they found nothing,
(05:41):
no remains, no evidence, no trace of a child. What
they did find was a financial trail. For nearly two
years after Britney disappeared, Kim Parker continued collecting benefits intended
for Britney's care. In total, authorities said Parker took more
(06:05):
than twenty four thousand dollars. Prosecutor said the money was
used for personal expenses, including home improvements. In two thousand
and three, Parker was indicted on seventy three counts of fraud,
including mail fraud, wire fraud, and medicaid fraud. In December
(06:29):
of two thousand and three, Kim Parker accepted a plea deal.
As part of that deal, she was sentenced to a
total of about ten years in prison, but she was
never charged in connection with Britney's disappearance. For years, investigators
believed Britney was likely deceased. Without consistent medical care and
(06:55):
life sustaining treatment, they said it was unlikely that she
could have served. The case remained unsolved for years until
June of twenty twenty one. That's when a woman named
Kaylin Stevenson came forward claiming she was Brittany Renee Williams.
(07:20):
She said a DNA test showed a possible connection to
Britney's maternal half sister. She pointed to surgical scars and
childhood memories that seemed to align with Britney's past. The
story spread quickly. Could Britney have survived? Hen Reiko County
(07:43):
Police launched a full review. They analyzed medical records, adoption documents,
and DNA results, including DNA analysis conducted with FBI assistants.
In July twenty twenty two, police announced their conclusion the
(08:06):
woman was not Brittany Renee Williams. The DNA and medical
evidence did not match. Despite that conclusion from authorities, and
despite never having been diagnosed with AIDS, Kaylin Stephenson has
continued to maintain that she is Brittany Renee Williams. After
(08:30):
that announcement, a reporter attempted to question Kim Parker at
her home in South Carolina. When asked what happened to Brittany,
Parker walked back and sighed without answering. To this day,
she has never publicly provided a clear explanation for what
(08:50):
happened to the child in her care. Brittany Renee Williams
was seven years old when she disappeared. She was a
child with serious medical needs, reliant on caregivers for survival,
and left unprotected by the systems around her. More than
(09:10):
two decades later, her case remains unsolved. Anyone with information
about the disappearance or whereabouts of Brittany Renee Williams should
contact the Henriko County Police Department or Crime Stoppers. You
can find their contact information in the description below. As
(09:33):
we close out this episode, remember that sharing Britney's story
helps make sure her name is not lost and that
the search for answers continues. Follow Hunting for Answers for
updates on this case and others like it. Subscribe on
YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok from where
(09:54):
true crime stories and case updates. Thank you so much
for joining us for another episode until next time. Hunting
(10:20):
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began in Henryko County, Virginia in
August of two thousand. A seven year old girl being
(00:23):
treated for AIDS stopped showing up to school, She stopped
receiving consistent medical care. She failed to appear at court hearings,
and the woman who was supposed to be caring for
her claimed the child was living with two women in California,
(00:43):
but when authorities tracked down those women, they said they
had never seen the girl. It would take nearly two
and a half years before a missing child investigation was
officially opened. By then, the woman who had custody had
collected twenty four thousand dollars in government benefits, money meant
(01:08):
for a child who could no longer be found in
the system. This is the story of Brittany Renee Williams.
Brittany Renee Williams was born March of nineteen ninety three
in Virginia. Her mother, Rose Murray Thompson, was diagnosed with
(01:33):
AIDS just three months before Brittany was born. From the
moment Brittany entered the world, her life was marked by
serious medical needs and instability. Rose Marie struggled with her
own health and with providing a stable home. As a result,
(01:55):
Britney spent time in foster care during her early years.
In nineteen ninety six, as rose Marie's health continued to decline,
she made a decision she believed would protect her daughter.
Around that time, she transferred guardianship of three year old
Brittany to a woman named Kim Parker. Parker was the
(02:20):
founder of Rainbow Kids, Incorporated, a group that provided care
for children with medical needs. On paper, it appeared to
be an ideal placement for a medically fragile child. Parker
operated a private foster home out of her house in
(02:40):
Henriko County. Over the years, she took in many children,
many with serious medical or developmental needs. On paper, it
appeared to be an idle placement for a child like Brittany.
Parker operated a price vi at foster home out of
(03:01):
her home in Henriiko County. Over the years, she took
in many children, many with serious medical or developmental needs.
Brittney lived with Kim Parker from nineteen ninety six until
two thousand. During that time, neighbors and acquaintances would later
(03:23):
report concerns about neglect. At least one neighbor said she
contacted authorities more than once. Others reported reaching out to
child protective services with similar worries. Despite these warnings, Brittany
remained in Parker's care, and then in August of two thousand,
(03:47):
Brittany renee Williams was last seen. After that, Britney stopped
appearing in places she was expected to be. She did
not return to school, leading to a truancy case. She
stopped receiving consistent medical care, a serious red flag. She
(04:10):
failed to appear for court ordered proceedings. When Kim Parker
was asked to produce Brittany, she did not. In court,
Parker claimed she had given Brittany to two women in California,
saying she could no longer care for her. When investigators
(04:33):
located those women, they said they never had custody of
Brittany and they did not know where she was. Despite
these warning signs, no immediate missing child investigation was launched.
Court hearings came and went. Explanations were accepted. Meaningful follow
(04:57):
up never came. It wasn't until January of two thousand
and three, nearly two and a half years after Brittany
was last seen, that she was finally reported missing. By then,
the most critical window of time had passed. Once the
(05:20):
case was opened, law enforcement began an extensive search. Investigators
search Kim Parker's home. They dug through her yard. They
even drained the septic system, searching for any sign of
what may have happened to Brittany. There they found nothing,
(05:41):
no remains, no evidence, no trace of a child. What
they did find was a financial trail. For nearly two
years after Britney disappeared, Kim Parker continued collecting benefits intended
for Britney's care. In total, authorities said Parker took more
(06:05):
than twenty four thousand dollars. Prosecutor said the money was
used for personal expenses, including home improvements. In two thousand
and three, Parker was indicted on seventy three counts of fraud,
including mail fraud, wire fraud, and medicaid fraud. In December
(06:29):
of two thousand and three, Kim Parker accepted a plea deal.
As part of that deal, she was sentenced to a
total of about ten years in prison, but she was
never charged in connection with Britney's disappearance. For years, investigators
believed Britney was likely deceased. Without consistent medical care and
(06:55):
life sustaining treatment, they said it was unlikely that she
could have served. The case remained unsolved for years until
June of twenty twenty one. That's when a woman named
Kaylin Stevenson came forward claiming she was Brittany Renee Williams.
(07:20):
She said a DNA test showed a possible connection to
Britney's maternal half sister. She pointed to surgical scars and
childhood memories that seemed to align with Britney's past. The
story spread quickly. Could Britney have survived? Hen Reiko County
(07:43):
Police launched a full review. They analyzed medical records, adoption documents,
and DNA results, including DNA analysis conducted with FBI assistants.
In July twenty twenty two, police announced their conclusion the
(08:06):
woman was not Brittany Renee Williams. The DNA and medical
evidence did not match. Despite that conclusion from authorities, and
despite never having been diagnosed with AIDS, Kaylin Stephenson has
continued to maintain that she is Brittany Renee Williams. After
(08:30):
that announcement, a reporter attempted to question Kim Parker at
her home in South Carolina. When asked what happened to Brittany,
Parker walked back and sighed without answering. To this day,
she has never publicly provided a clear explanation for what
(08:50):
happened to the child in her care. Brittany Renee Williams
was seven years old when she disappeared. She was a
child with serious medical needs, reliant on caregivers for survival,
and left unprotected by the systems around her. More than
(09:10):
two decades later, her case remains unsolved. Anyone with information
about the disappearance or whereabouts of Brittany Renee Williams should
contact the Henriko County Police Department or Crime Stoppers. You
can find their contact information in the description below. As
(09:33):
we close out this episode, remember that sharing Britney's story
helps make sure her name is not lost and that
the search for answers continues. Follow Hunting for Answers for
updates on this case and others like it. Subscribe on
YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok from where
(09:54):
true crime stories and case updates. Thank you so much
for joining us for another episode until next time. Hunting
(10:20):
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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