What Happened to Brittany?

On August 18, 2000, 7-year-old Brittany Renee Williams vanished from a charity home operated by Kim E. Parker in Henrico, Virginia, leaving no trace behind. Brittany, who was born with AIDS and required medication and medical care, has not been seen since that day, leading investigators to believe that she may be deceased.

Brittany’s Mother Gives up Custody

Brittany's mother, Rose Marie Thompson, received the devastating news of her AIDS diagnosis just three months before giving birth to her daughter. This news further exacerbated Rose Marie's already tumultuous life, leading to drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and other questionable choices. As a result, Brittany spent most of her early years in foster care. In 2006, Rose Marie, weakened by AIDS, entrusted Brittany's care to Kim E. Parker, the founder of Rainbow Kids, Inc., a now-defunct foundation that provided long-term care for children with serious medical conditions, including HIV and AIDS. Kim received substantial donations and financial assistance from the community, as well as Medicaid and Social Security benefits for the children under her care.

However, concerns arose about the welfare of the children at Rainbow Kids Inc., with visitors describing the facility as "filthy." Numerous reports of child abuse and neglect were made to the authorities regarding Kim's conduct. It was during this time that Brittany went missing. Kim took Brittany to a doctor's appointment in August 2000, and that was the last confirmed sighting of the young girl. Kim later called Brittany's adult half-sister, requesting that she take custody of Brittany, claiming the girl was out of control and beyond her ability to care for due to her extensive medical needs. The half-sister declined, expressing her love for Brittany but acknowledging her inability to provide the necessary care.

Kim "Sells" Brittany

Kim's subsequent actions raised suspicion. She alleged that she paid a woman named Linda Hodges $3,000 in cash to take custody of Brittany, followed by an additional $5,000 payment she mailed. She claimed that Hodges and Brittany visited her home in December 2000, but she had not heard from them since. However, investigations revealed that Linda Hodges and another individual named Kim Evans, who were previous volunteers at Rainbow Kids Inc., had no contact with Brittany and never had custody of her.

In 2001, Kim appeared in court after failing to take Brittany to a scheduled paternity test. She informed the judge that Brittany was living with relatives, and the case was dismissed without further investigation. Kim continued to receive monthly benefits for Brittany until 2002, when the Virginia Department of Children and Families took custody of the child and initiated a search for her. Kim was subsequently ordered to spend 20 days in jail for contempt of court charges after refusing to disclose Brittany's whereabouts, claiming that the women she sold Brittany to lived in California but providing no address.

Authorities Find Two Women

In March 2003, investigators located Linda Hodges and Kim Evans, who cooperated with the search for Brittany but had no information about her whereabouts. The women had previously volunteered with Kim’s organization and had spoken to her about Brittany visiting them in California. Those plans fell through, however when Kim discontinued contact with the women.

In April, Kim faced charges unrelated to Brittany's case, including money laundering, for allegedly taking over $16,000 in cash intended for Brittany's care and attempting to conceal the sources of the money. She pleaded guilty to two counts and faced additional charges of medical assistance payment fraud.

Kim Sentenced to Prison

Despite extensive efforts, authorities found no evidence of Brittany or what might have happened to her, even after searching Kim's home and draining the septic tank. Kim was eventually sentenced to eight years in federal prison on mail fraud and wire fraud charges. In December 2003, she received an additional two-year prison sentence on medical insurance fraud charges. She has since been released from prison and continues to assert that she has no knowledge of Brittany's whereabouts or what happened to her.

I Am Brittany Williams

In early 2021, an Indiana woman came forward claiming to be the missing Brittany Williams. She stated she had a DNA test to prove she was the girl.

"After a thorough investigation, we have concluded that the person who came forward is not Brittany Williams," Henrico Police Lt. Matt Pecka said. "Law enforcement came to these findings after a robust review of medical records, adoption records, consultation with Infectious Disease physicians, dozens of interviews, and DNA analysis."

Unsolved Mystery

The disappearance of Brittany Renee Williams remains a haunting mystery, leaving investigators and loved ones searching for answers even after two decades.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Henrico County Police Division at (804) 501-4000 or their local authorities. Her case number is 030129111.

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