On July 8th, 2017 at about 11:38 P.M. Officers of the Waterloo Police Department responded to a report of a child drowning in a bathtub at 1113 W. Mullan Ave. Upon arrival the Waterloo Fire Department was on scene tending to an unresponsive four year old child later identified as Jaheem Harris. Harris was later pronounced dead at Covenant Medical Center.

An autopsy was performed and the death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen. During the investigation it was determined that Walter Cordell Williams was the caretaker of Harris at the time of the incident and the cause of Harris’ injuries that resulted in his death.

On September 14^th, 2017 Walter Cordell Williams, age 23, who was currently in custody at the Black Hawk County Jail on unrelated charges, was charged in Black Hawk County District Court with Murder 1^st degree for the death of Jaheem Harris.

Captain Dave Mohlis
Investigations Division Commander